By Our Correspondent
A magistrate court sitting in Mowe Ibafo has convicted Chief Semiu Adeosun to two years imprisonment for standing as surety for the Oluwo Itoku, Chief Olusoji Sodamola and two of his Chiefs who were said to have jumped bail few weeks ago.
Chief Semiu Adeosun who is the Apesin of Itoku was said to have stood as surety for Chief Sodamola and the two other chiefs who allegedly assaulted the Baale of Afon, Chief Elijah Osoba during Egba Chiefs visit to 'Igbo Lisabi as part of activities of this year's Lisabi Day celebration few weeks ago.
It could be recalled that Oluwo Itoku, Chief Olusoji Sodamola was declared wanted by the police for allegedly jumping bail.
His action followed Police investigation into a case of attempted murder and stealing reported against him and two other chiefs at Owode Egba Divisional Police Station by the Baale of Afon, Chief Elijah Oluwole Osoba.
It was alleged that the Oluwo Itoku and his two subordinate chiefs from Itoku township had, at gun point, forcefully depossessed Chief Elijah Oluwole Osoba of the traditional beads on his neck, the ones in his car and the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300,000:00) cash kept in the car at Oba village shortly after the visit of the Alake and traditional Chiefs to Lisabi forest as part of the activities marking this year’s Lisabi festival.
Chief Sodamola’s action, it was gathered followed a legal battle which some Baales of Itoku in the homestead had instituted against Oluwo, Odofin and other Chiefs of Itoku township who were alleged to have sold a large expanse of Itoku’s land known as “Igbo Itoku” to a Chinese company and further sold timbers, economic leaves, limestones, etc for a whopping sum of Five Hundred Million Naira (N500,000,000:00).
The Baales and other indigenes of Itoku under the auspices of ITOKU ASSEMBLY had been worried that the resources of Itoku villages are being taken over, for selfish purpose by some people on the guise of being high traditional chiefs of the town.
The fact is that shortly after sighting Baale Afon under the canopy in Oba township, the Oluwo Itoku sent Chief Monsuru Adio – Baajito Itoku and Chief Saidi Ogunbodede – Otunbade Itoku to invite Baale Afon to see him by the road side and he (Baale Afon) obliged, but surprisingly on arrival, the Oluwo Itoku pronounced the Baale removed, being one of the people that had taken them to Court over the sale of Igbo Itoku and other resources and ordered his chiefs to remove at gun point, the Baale’s beads from his neck, removed the beads in his car, and the car’s plate number.
Chief Oluwole Osoba later discovered that the sum of N300,000:00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) he kept in the car had been taken away by the hoodlums.
It was also gathered that Chief Sodamola and his accomplice were invited to Owode Egba Police Station on Saturday 18th February, 2023 where statements were taken.
They were however released on administrative bail to Chief Semiu Adeosun – Apesin Itoku and asked to report back on Monday 20th February, 2023 by 8:00 a.m.
It was further revealed that Chief Sodamola and others failed to report at the Police Station while the complainant had shown up.
Our sources further hinted that the Oluwo Itoku had earlier taken cover at the Palace of the Alake of Egbaland to avoid arrest.
Report also has it that the Executive Chairman, Obafemi Owode Local Government area, Chief Sina Ogunsola was linked to intervene on the matter by inviting the parties involved to his office with the view to settling the matter.
At the meeting schedule for 1:00 p.m on February, 20th 2023, the Complainant and the Divisional Police Officer had been in the Chairman’s office for two hours only to be told that the Oluwo Itoku, Chief Olusoji Sodamola had jetted out of the Country.
The Baale Afon, Chief Elijah Oluwole Osoba thereafter urged the Nigerian Police to ensure that the matter was not swept under the carpets given the personality that was involved in the criminal act.
He wondered what could have become of him if the Oluwo Itoku and his accomplice had killed him.
Chief Oluwole Osoba also noted that the case of illegal sales of Itoku’s heritage has become a matter of litigation upon which the Oluwo Itoku is a key player.
But the sitting magistrate ordered that the convict, the Apesin of Itoku, Chief Semiu Adeosun should be sent to prison or paid a fine of N200,000.00
The Court also ruled that Chief Olusoji Sodamola, the Oluwo of Itoku and his accomplice have case to answer whenever they are found.
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