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Tag: Traditional Ruler

  • Kogi traditional ruler, Obobanyi dies at 116

    Kogi traditional ruler, Obobanyi dies at 116

    The Obobanyi of Ohionwa in Ihima, Okehi Local Government of Kogi State, Chief Jeremiah Akaava, has died at the age of 116.

    A statement issued by the Ohionwa clan in Lokoja on Saturday said that the monarch died in the late hours of Friday.

    It said the deceased spent 36 years on the throne.

    The statement, signed by Mr Yusuf Itopa on behalf of the Ohionwa Clan, described the late monarch as a man who stood for peace, unity and progress of Ohionwa, Ebiraland and Kogi and Nigeria as a whole.

    The clan expressed its gratitude to men and women of goodwill who appreciated the late Obobanyi’s role as a unifying force in the land and consequently showed love and respect to him while alive.

    The late monarch has since been buried.

  • Gunmen kidnap traditional ruler in Plateau

    Unidentified gunmen have kidnapped Mr. David Dongbam, a second class traditional ruler of Dorock Kingdom in Shandam Local Government Area of Plateau State, the Police have said.

    Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Terna Tyopev, who stated this on Tuesday, said that Dongbam was abducted at his residence in Shandam on Monday night.

    “Yesterday, at about 10pm, we received information that unknown gunmen stormed the residence of the Longdorock, Mr David Dongbam, a second-class chief of Dorock Kingdom of Shandam LGA and took him to unknown destination.

    “On receipt of the information, we immediately formed a search-and-rescue team which is working assiduously to rescue the traditional ruler unhurt,” Tyopev told News Agency of Nigeria in Jos.

    The PPRO said the command would update members of the public on developments on the issue, adding that efforts were on to rescue the monarch.

  • Court dethrones traditional ruler in Adamawa, orders fresh appointment

    A Yola High Court presided by Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman on Friday voided the appointment of the District Head of Jalingo-Maiha, Yarima Wakili, by the State Government.

    The court ordered Gov. Muhammadu Bindow to approve Mahmud Abubakar, whose name was earlier forwarded to him for approval by Mubi Emirate Council as the selected traditional ruler.

    Recall that Mahmud Abubakar (Plaintiff) had earlier dragged the governor, Mubi Emirate Council, Yarima Wakili and Attorney General of the state as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, respectively, over the appointment of Wakili as the district head of Jalingo-Maiha in Maiha Local Government Area.

    In her Judgment, Justice Abdulrahman said the plaintiff has proven that he was eligible and was duly selected among other applicants for the district head stool by village heads in Maiha, who conducted the selection exercise under the supervision of representatives from Mubi Emirate Council.

    “That the approval of the 3rd defendant by the governor of Adamawa State as the district head of Jalingo-Maiha district, Maiha Local Government Area who was not the person recommended by the 2nd defendant is wrongful, illegal, null and void.

    “That the plaintiff whose name was forwarded to the Governor of Adamawa State for approval by the 2nd defendant, is the proper person to be approved for appointment as the district head of Jalingo-Maiha District.

    “It is hereby ordered that the Governor of Adamawa State (1st defendant) should approve the plaintiff as the proper person for appointment as District Head of Jalingo-Maiha District.

    “An order of perpetual injunction is hereby given, restraining the 3rd defendant from parading himself as district head of Jalingo-Maiha District, Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa State,” the court ruled.

  • Gunmen kidnaps Kogi traditional ruler after killing son

    The traditional ruler of Jakura town in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State, Chief Usman Ajibola, has been kidnapped, while his son, Rufai Ajibola, has been killed by gunmen.

    The Spokesperson of the Kogi State police command, Mr William Ayah, confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Tuesday.

    The monarch and his son were returning from Oworo town when the kidnappers attacked them within Imo and Igbonla communities about 15 kilometers to Jakura town.

    Numbering about five, the abductors whisked the chief as well as his driver away and killed the son as he struggled to rescue his father.

    The police, however, say that the case is now being investigated.

    Meanwhile, the corpse of the late Rufai has been deposited in a mortuary in Lokoja.

  • Herdsmen invade Kogi community, kill traditional ruler, wife, nine others

    Herdsmen invade Kogi community, kill traditional ruler, wife, nine others

    There was pandemonium on Monday in Kogi as suspected herdsmen in separate attacks on Agbenema, Aj’Ichekpa, Opada and Iyade villages killed ten persons, including a traditional ruler, the Onu Agbenema, Musa Edibo; his wife while several houses were also burnt down.

    Agbenema is in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    The attackers who were allegedly armed with sophisticated weapons hid in the bushes around these villages from were they reportedly launched deadly attacks on their targets.

    According to the natives, the herdsmen whose mode of operation is to set the houses ablaze and open fire on the fleeing inhabitants, allegedly slit victims’ throats and cut off their vital parts.

    The natives who would not want their names in print stated that the administrator of Omala LGA, Ibrahim Aboh, was lucky to have escaped from the attackers.

    Also, the houses of former chairman, Adofu Stephen; and that of his parents were burnt.

    Residents said soldiers who were drafted to curtail the herdsmen’s rampage allegedly refused to assist them to repel the suspected herdsmen.

    “We were surprised when we approached the soldiers who were stationed at the Guest House at Abejukolo for assistance.

    “They refused to act professionally, as they used their vehicle to block us from advancing to the troubled spot to help our people.

    “They have razed down Ojuwo Ajomayeigbi, Iyade, Agbenema and Opada villages.

    “We want the world to come to our assistance before they exterminate and inherit our land.”

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command said he was yet to be briefed by the DPO in Omala.

    He promised to get back with details.

  • Traditional ruler, son, arraigned for allegedly murdering EFCC informant

    A traditional ruler, Nojimu Abioye, and his son, Wahab Abioye, were on Wednesday arraigned in an Ikeja High Court, for alleged murder of one Alhaji Olatunji Rasak in 2015.

    Rasaki was said to be an informant for the Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC ).

    The duo was charged with a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

    They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Prosecutor, Mr M.T Adewoye, told the court that the Baale of Temidire and his son committed the offences at 10.a.m on July 20, 2015 at the Temidire Area of Alagbado, Lagos.

    “The defendants alongside others who are now at large, murdered Rasak by shooting him with a gun and cutting him with a machete and dangerous weapons,” Adewoye said.

    According to the prosecution, the offences contravene Sections 221 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011.

    Counsel to the defendants, Mr Adebayo Lawanson, requested that the accused be allowed to maintain the bail granted them during their prior arraignments at the Magistrates’ Court.

    “The accused ever since they were granted bail by the magistrates’ court had never jumped bail,” Lawanson said.

    Obliging the defence counsel, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, ordered that the accused continued with the bail earlier granted them by the magistrates’ court.

    Oshodi adjourned the case until March 19 for trial.

     

     

  • Traditional ruler sentenced to two years imprisonment over fraud

    Ondo State Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Ore has sentenced a traditional ruler in the Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, Oba Pius Akinfesola Adewola, to two years imprisonment.

    The monarch was arraigned for 36 counts bordering on fraud, theft, illegal conversion of the monthly salaries of his domestic workers and chiefs, false declaration and impersonation.

    In 2012, residents of the community in a peaceful protest banished him over an alleged misrule which they claimed brought the community into disrepute.

    Similarly, the monarch was also accused of shortchanging traditional chiefs in the community by refusing to pay them their entitlement in full after he had collected same from the local government.

    The community also accused him of engaging in a clash with his chiefs, as well as an illegal conversion of the community resources for personal use and writing of fictitious petitions against his subjects.

    Shortly after his suspension by the Ondo State Government from parading himself as the Akamuja of Igburowo land, he was arrested and detained by the police at the Ondo State Police Command in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, over the allegations.

    He was subsequently arraigned in court on the 36 counts.

    Delivering the judgement, the presiding Magistrate, O.J Adelegan, ruled the plaintiff had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the monarch committed the offences.

    The court held that Oba Adewola should be jailed for two years or pay a fine of N500,000 on each of the charges.

    Magistrate O.J Adelegan, said “from the antecedents so far garnered on the record, the convict appears to me, a conscienceless person, who has no iota of regret, indulging in such an opprobrious and despicable act”.

    “However, since it is no gainsaying, that our law is no respecter of any personality, I strongly deprecate the ungainly and unbecoming acquisitive conduct of the convict, particularly, his fraudulent instinct to corruptly enrich himself at the expense of others. Though, I have listened attentively to the plea of alocutus by his counsel, but from the available record, I see him as a neophyte, I mean a first offenders.

    “Nevertheless, I am strongly of the humble mindset, that if the convict is not appropriately sanctioned, the danger inherent therein, is that people of like minds, may either overtly be influenced or encouraged to see criminality, as a veritable means of livelihood. To this end the convict is hereby sentenced as follows.

    “On counts 10-21 of the charge, which are on fraudulent conversion, the convict is hereby sentenced to two years imprisonment or to pay a fine of 500,000.00 on each of the counts,” he stated.

    In reaction, counsel to the monarch, Mr Bode Akinkoye, described the verdict as fair with the option of fine granted by the court.

    Also, counsel to the Ondo State Government from the Ministry of Justice, Mrs Bola Joel-Ogundadegbe, commended the court for its thoroughness in the judgement.

  • Police arrest Lagos traditional ruler for allegedly crushing wife to death with Jeep

    The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a traditional ruler identified as Taibu Ogunbanjo in Ise Town in Ibeju Lekki area of the state for allegedly crushing his wife to death with his Jeep.

    The baale runs a block-moulding factory at Folu, a community in Ibeju Lekki.

    According to a report by The Punch, the baale and his wife, Rotimi Ogunbanjo, got married three years ago, but the marriage had been fraught with misunderstanding and fights.

    On Thursday, December 7, 2017, the couple reportedly had a disagreement. After the altercation, Rotimi was said to have gone to the baale’s factory and damaged some blocks on the premises.

    Taibu reportedly entered his Toyota Highlander, and was driving out of the premises in anger when he knocked down his wife.

    A community leader, who identified himself simply as Akinsipe, said the wife died on the spot, adding that the corpse had been deposited at the Epe General Hospital.

    He said, “He (Taibu) is the baale of the community. He and his wife had been having issues since they got married. I did not know what actually happened between them on that day, but I learnt that they had a disagreement in the morning.

    “She went to his block factory and destroyed some blocks arranged on the premises. He entered his vehicle angrily and as he was driving out of the premises, the wife tried to stop him. He hit her and she died on the spot.”

    Akinsipe stated that the matter was reported at the Akodo Police Station, adding that the baale had been arrested.

    A police source confided in newsmen that the suspect’s family reported at the police station that the death resulted from an accident.

    The source said, “The baale and the woman got married three years ago without a child and they had been having disagreements. On that particular day, she destroyed some blocks at the industry. The man became angry and as he was driving out, he crushed her with his vehicle on the factory premises.

    “The relations of the suspect have said that it was a case of an accident. But looking at the circumstances surrounding the incident, the accident claim is untenable.

    “He could not have lost control of the vehicle on the premises as a result of speeding. There is a limit to the speed the car can go on the premises.”

    The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, who confirmed Rotimi’s death, said the command would investigate the matter to unravel the motive behind the baale’s action.

    He said, “We are investigating the matter to find out what transpired between the man and his wife before the incident happened. They were having family issues, which led the woman to the block industry to destroy things.

    “We want to know whether what the man did was a reaction to what his wife did. We believe there is more to the ‘accident’ than meets the eye because there was an altercation between them before the incident occured.”

    The PPRO added that the case had been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba.