BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
A 52-year-old man, Adebayo Nasiru, has been dragged before an Osogbo Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly impersonating the traditional ruler of his hometown, the Salu of Edun-Abon, Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Adesoji Oladepo.
The Police also docked six other men said to have acted as Nasiru’s Council of Chiefs and allegedly operated a parallel palace in the town.
They are Gbenga Olasunbo, 58; Odebode Akande, 65; Ige Lawrence, 56; Adegbami Kehinde, 45; Johnson Jojolola, 69; and 40-year-old Babatunde Tunmise.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Elisha Olusegun, informed the court that the seven defendants and others at large conspired among themselves to impersonate Oba Oladepo, incite his other subjects against him and also behaved in manners capable of causing a breach of peace in the town.
Olusegun said the elderly men committed the offences between November and December, 2022 in Edun-Abon, adding that they continued impersonating the traditional ruler despite an order of the court, which mandated them to desist.
The charge read, “That you Adebayo Nasiru, Gbenga Olasunbo, Chief Odebode Akande, Ige Lawrence, Adegbami Kehinde, Johnson Jojolola, Babatunde Tunmise and others at large between the month of November and December, 2022 at Edun-Abon in the Ipetumodu Magisterial District did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit impersonation.
“That you Adebayo Nasiru on the same date, place, month and year in the aforementioned Magisterial District did represent yourself as a Salu of Edun-Abon when you know there is an existing Salu constituted by legitimate authority.
“You (defendants) did conspire amongst yourselves to commit misdemeanour to wit conduct likely to cause the breach of the peace.
“You did conduct yourselves In a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by inciting people against Adesoji Oladepo, the Salu of Edun-Abon that he is not a real king of Edun-Abon
“That you did intentionally disobey the order of Chief Magistrate’s Court 3 Osogbo made on the 8th day of April, 2022 when you were ordered to maintain peace for a period of one year, an order which you failed to carry out.”
Inspector Olusegun told the court that the accused persons contravened Sections 133(9), 516, 517, 249(D) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002. He said they also committed offences contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) (2) (3) (4) of Chiefs Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2022.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety each in the same amount. He adjourned the matter for hearing to June 27, 2023.
