An Ondo State Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Akure has ordered the remand of a man, Adekolajo Aladeseye, in prison for allegedly installing himself and parading himself as the monarch of Ijare in the Ifedore Local Government Area of the state.
The 67-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday by the state police command for crowning himself along with three others – Fasore Lawrence, Ajidahun Abraham, and Adegbenro Akanle on the other side of the state government.
The four defendants were arraigned before the magistrate court on three-count charge bothering on conspiracy, unlawful installation, and involvement in conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.
According to the police prosecutor, Babatunde Ajiboye, the defendants conspired and conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause public disorder.
The charge sheet reads, “That you Adekolajo Aladeseyi ‘m’ (2) Fasore Lawrence ‘m’ (3) Ajidahun Abraham ‘m’ (4) Adegbenro Akanle ‘m’ and others at large on the 15th day of April, 2025 at about 1:00am at Ijare town within the Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court did conspire together to commit misdemeanor to wit conduct likely to cause breach of public peace and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 517 (A) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you Adekolajo Aladeseyi ‘m’ (2) Fasore Lawrence ‘m’ (3) Ajidahun Abraham ‘m’ (4) Adegbenro Akanle ‘m’ and others at large on the same date, time and place at about the aforementioned Magisterial District did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of Public peace by illegally and purport to install one Adekolajo Aladeseyi as the Olujare of Ijare without the approval of the Ondo State Executive Council of Chief and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you Adekolajo Aladeseyi ‘m’ (2) Fasore Lawrence ‘m’ (3) Ajidahun Abraham ‘m’ (4) Adegbenro Akanle ‘m’ and others at large on the same date, time and place at the aforementioned Magisterial district did install or purport to install Adekolajo Aladeseyi as the Olujare of Ijare without the approval by the Ondo State Executive Council of Chiefs and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 15(1) (2) (a) (b) of the Ondo State Chiefs Law Cap. 27 Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge preferred against them.
The counsel to the defendants, Adelanke Akinrata, prayed the court to grant the defendants bail citing Sections 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 146(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law. He described his clients as responsible community leaders, saying that they would not instigate further unrest.
In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate Jaiyeola Ogungade ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody pending determination of the bail application and adjourned ruling on the bail to May 12, 2025.
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