Ogun King Charged with Land Fraud and Assaulting Officer

October 22, 2024 EMMANUEL ADEBAYO AJIBOLA

The Olu of Obafemi, Oba Taofeek Olukayode, was charged by the Ogun State Police Command on Monday with assaulting a police officer and defrauding one Michael Adeyemi out of N75 million before a magistrate court in the Owode-Egba region of the state.

The monarch was accused on June 29 by several community leaders from the Agboro, Latunde, Olorode, Agbelu, Odedola, Akero, and Sagalu villages of taking over 500 hectares of their property by force.

They had told newsmen that on 24 December 2023, some “hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons invaded our communities and started to clear our lands.”

The leaders had also claimed that “at the end of this exercise, about 500 hectares of land were cleared and pegged. This was followed by the arrival of bulldozers to clear the land, which had been planted with cash crops such as kola nuts, cocoa, cashew, mango, palm trees, plantains, cassava, maize, and vegetables, tomatoes, and pepper.

“The only source of water has also been damaged, and the road to the only public school (Sagalu Muslim School) fenced off.”

The police prosecutor, Inspector Fatai Moronkole, told the court that the incident occurred on September 18 and 20, 2024, at Obafemi town in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state.

Moronkole informed the court that Oba Olukayode reportedly accepted N75 million from Adeyemi with the agreement of selling 500 acres of property to him but failed to carry out the agreement.

He added that when a police officer came to see him about the situation, the monarch reportedly assaulted him and damaged his spectacles.

Some of the charges read: “That you, Oba Taofeek Owolabi Olukayode (M) and others still at large, between 18/09/2023 and 20/08/2024 at Obafemi town, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, in the Obafemi-Owode Magisterial District, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of seventy-five million naira only (N75,000,000.00k) from one Dr. Michael Adeyemi under the false pretence of selling 500 acres of land to him, knowing this to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Law, Laws of Ogun State, 2006.

“That you, Oba Taofeek Owolabi Olukayode (M) and others still at large, between 18/09/2023 and 20/08/2024 at Obafemi town, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, in the Obafemi-Owode Magisterial District, fraudulently took and converted the sum of seventy-five million naira only (N75,000,000.00k) to your use.

Which is the property of one Dr. Michael Adeyemi, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Law, Laws of Ogun State, 2006.

“That you, Oba Taofeek Owolabi Olukayode (M) and others still at large, on or about 21 October 2024, at about 08:30 am, at Obafemi town, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, in the Obafemi-Owode Magisterial District, with intent to resist and prevent arrest.

Unlawfully assaulted one ASP Oriade David while he was carrying out his lawful duty, wherein his recommended lens, valued at Eight Thousand Five Hundred Naira Only (N8,500.00k), was damaged, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 356 of the Criminal Code Law, Laws of Ogun State, 2006.”

The prosecutor said the offences were punishable under the law.

Oba Olukayode is facing four counts bordering on felony, fraudulent conversion, and assault.

However, the defendant, who was presented before Magistrate M.O. Somefun, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

Magistrate Somefun granted the monarch bail of N10m with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned to November 25, 2024, for a further hearing.