***To Arrest More
The Ondo State Government, through its Ministry of Justice, has formally taken over the prosecution of a self-acclaimed monarch in Ijare, Ifedore Local Government Area, Adekolajo Aladeseyi, and two of his chiefs from the State Police Command.
This move was disclosed during the resumed hearing at a Chief Magistrate Court, where the prosecution informed the court that additional suspects had been arrested and would be charged alongside the initial defendants.
Aladeseyi and the two chiefs, Fasore Lawrence and Adegbenro Akanle, were earlier ordered to be remanded in custody on the orders of Chief Magistrate Jaiyeola Solomon Ogungade for allegedly instigating a crisis in Ijare.
The accused were initially arraigned by the Police for unlawfully installing Aladeseyi as the Olujare of Ijare, a stool that is currently vacant. The Police Prosecutor, Babatunde Ajiboye, charged the trio with conspiracy and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, as well as flouting the state’s chief law.
The charges read in part:
“That you, Adekolajo Aladeseyi, Fasore Lawrence and Adegbenro Akanle, and others at large, on the 15th day of April, 2025, at about 1:00 a.m. in Ijare town, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to commit a misdemeanor to wit: conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace, thereby committing an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 517 (A) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.”
The second charge added:
“That you, Adekolajo Aladeseyi, Fasore Lawrence, Adegbenro Akanle, and others at large, on the same date, time, and place, conducted yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of public peace by illegally and purportedly installing one Adekolajo Aladeseyi as the Olujare of Ijare without the approval of the Ondo State Executive Council of Chiefs, thereby committing an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.”
All the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Their counsel, Mr. Adelanke Akinrata, prayed the court to grant them bail on liberal terms, citing Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees the presumption of innocence.
Ruling on the bail application, Magistrate Ogungade granted each of the accused bail in the sum of one million naira, with one surety in like sum. The sureties must present a three-year tax clearance, be persons of good character, and swear to an affidavit of means.
However, the temporary relief was short-lived as the Deputy Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. E.T. Kolade-Obanijesu, announced that the Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice had taken over the case.
Chief Magistrate Ogungade granted the request and adjourned the matter until June 13, 2025, for further hearing.
