Ademola Idowu Oloworiyibi, the Olofun of Irele, and Adeyemi Akinde, the Olu of Igodan Lisa, have both been charged with impersonating a traditional leader without authorization before an Akure Magistrate Court.
Last Monday, the court gave State Commissioner of Police Oyediran Oyeyemi the order to detain both people and bring them before the court the following day.
They were docked as a result of a lawsuit Sir Charles Titiloye, the state’s attorney general and commissioner for justice, filed before the court.
By assuming the chieftaincy titles of Olofun of Irele and Olu of Igodan Lisa without permission, the two traditional chiefs are alleged to have violated Section 516 of the Ondo State Criminal Code.
They are accused of allowing themselves to be installed and paraded in royal regalia without the permission of the Ondo State Executive Council and in contravention of sections 15(1) and (2) of the state’s Chiefs Law.
Six Irele Community Chiefs who were allegedly in charge of Oloworiyibi’s promotion as Olofun of Irele were also detained.
They are Ebielemi Akintola, Adebayo Olowoboye, Akiyesi Owoloye, Orukotan Fadayomi, and Igbekele Olajide.
The defendants were charged with two counts of conspiracy and the unauthorized installation of a monarch, to which they entered a not guilty plea.
The Justice Commissioner begged for additional time to investigate the situation and let the police settle things.
The defendants’ attorneys, Olarewaju Jaiyeoba and Kayode Adebusi, begged the court to grant the prisoners bail based on their situation.
The Attorney General, however, rejected Akinde’s request for bail because it was claimed that he would not show up for court until Amotekun Corps members had captured him.
The sitting Magistrate, F. A. Aduroja, ordered the Olu of Igodan’s attendance on the next adjournment date, which is scheduled for October 19, 2022, and released him to the Amotekun Corps.
Aduroja granted Oloworiyibi bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in the same sum.
The case was continued until October 26, 2022, and bail was also granted to the six chiefs in the amount of N1 million with a guarantee in the same amount.
