Public assault: Orile Ifo monarch remanded in Prison
The suspended Olorile of Orile-Ifo , Ogun State Oba Abdulsemiu Ogunjobi spent the night of Tuesday February 4 2025 at the Ifo Correctional Centre as he was unable to meet his bail conditions following his arraignment by the Nigerian Police at the Ifo Magistrate Court for his public assault on 73-year old Elder Abraham Areola. After he was suspended by the Ogun State Government for acts unbecoming of a traditional ruler following widespread criticism of his assault on Areola which was recorded and uploaded on the social media , the Nigerian Police also dragged him before Magistrate F. A. Iroko to answer to three-count charge of assault, conspiracy, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was subsequently admitted to bail with two sureties in the sum of N5m each, who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction. But at the close of business on Tuesday he was unable to perfect the bail conditions necessitating his remand at the Ifo Correctional Centre.Ironically, while brutalising Areola the monarch boasted in the the viral video that led to his suspension that he would ensure that his victim was sent to jail through his connection with the police. The monarch will have his day in Court on March 6, the date the Magistrate fixed for the continuation of the case against him. The Charge Against Him:“That Abdul-Semiu ‘m’ and others at large, on 21st January 2025, at about 1100 hrs at Sojuolu Street, Ifo Magisterial District, did conspire to commit a misdemeanour, to wit: assault and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006. “That you, Abdul-Semiu ‘m’, and others now at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully assault one Areola Abraham by slapping him on the face and ear, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 351 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006. “That you, Abdul-Semiu ‘m’, and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by forcing one Areola Abraham ‘m’ to kneel down and assaulting him in public, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.”