From Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
A petty trader, Mr. Kunle Ayodele of Elegosi compound in Egosi
Community, Oke-Ero local government area of Kwara state who had
previously sort protection of the police to save him from alleged
continued harassment, assault, illegal arrest and threat to life by a
traditional ruler, Oba Daniel Dada, the Elogosi of Egosi has finally
dragged the Oba along with 7 others to Court.
The hearing which commences on Tuesday, 5th of November, 2013 at the
Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin, the kwara state capital at about
12: 20pm witnessed the presence of 5 accused persons including the
traditional ruler, HRM Oba Daniel Dada, with 3 other suspected person
said to be at large.
The 8 accused persons where accused of criminal conspiracy,
intimidation, assault, mischief and theft contrary to section 97(1),
397, 266,327 and 288 of penal code law.
According to information gathered, on 16/04/2013 at about 1525hrs, a
letter of petition originated from Temitope Chambers located at no 26,
Zulu-Gambari GRA, ilorin, signed by Barrister Abiodun Dada on behalf
of Mr. Kunle Ayodele, that on 16/03/2013 at about 0000hrs, the
following people 1. kunle Adesina 2. John Amuda 3. Idowu Alufoge 4.
Yomi Adeniyi lead by 1. Chief Gbenga Ashaolu, 2. Chief Lasisi Joseph
Adeniyi and 3. Chief Ashaolu Folaranmi all of Egosi ile town all armed
themselves with dangerous weapons such as axes, cutlass and woods and
attacked Kunle Ayodele (complainant) aka Kunle Alaja and his wife in
their house, ordering them to obey the order of the Elegosi of Egosi
Ile, HRM Oba Daniel Dada by vacating the Egosi town immediately and
when he refused, they descended heavily on him in the process,
destroying his property such as Television set valued at about 35,000,
one big stove value unknown, one thermocool flask and clothes. The sum
of 285,000 was also carted away.
Investigation by the State CID ilorin reveals that, the above people
acted on the instruction and directives of HRM Oba Daniel Dada, the
Elegosi of Egosi ile to attack the complainant.
However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges
against them.
The judge granted them bail and fixed December 9 for continuation of the case.
The complainant, Mr. Kunle Ayodele while speaking to journalists after
the case stated that, he has suffered greatly in the hand of the
traditional ruler Oba Daniel Dada and his accomplice, noting that, if
not for a court such as this which has the capacity to protect
helpless citizens like himself, the Oba would have killed him.
It would be recalled that, the complainant is also asking for
N5million as compensation for general damages caused him and his
business by the actions of the monarch.
A statement written and signed by the lawyer to the complainant, Mr.
Abiodun Dada Esq of Messrs Abiodun Dada & Co, said the complainant is
an easy going man and a law abiding citizen who had been residing in
Egosi for over 10 years without any problem.
It was gathered from the statement that in furtherance of Ayodele’s
business, his landlord converted a room to a shop in his residence for
him to expand his business.
The statement also noted that upon this development, which did not go
down well with many people, one Johnson Amuda Yusuf and his mother,
Taiye Amuda among others, started harassing and assaulting Ayodele
that he stole the blocks that were used to build the shop which his
landlord gave him.
It said the complainant was ordered by the Oba to demolish the shop,
remove the blocks and take them to the palace.
The statement said after the demolition, no block belonging to the
people was found in the construction work except red bricks.
Kunle Ayodele explained that based on the instructions of Nigerian
Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the said Johnson and his
mother Taiye Amuda were arraigned before the Upper Area Court
Omu-Aran, but that the monarch and all members of the Chiefs in
council asked the complainant to withdraw the case from court or leave
the town within a month.
He said at the expiration of one month, the traditional ruler
allegedly reported the complainant to the police that he was selling
Indian Hemp, adding that the complainant’s wife was arrested alongside
him and detained and that after search, nothing incriminating was
found in his house.
Ayodele also alleged that the monarch and his chiefs in council
further engaged in threatening his life by placing all sorts of fetish
objects in front of his house with a view to frustrating him out of
town.
