The Ogun State Police Command today arraigned five traditional chiefs in Oke-Ona of Egbaland before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Isabo, Abeokuta over the alleged illegal installation of one Rafiu Bankole as Oluwo Ilugun.
The five chiefs who were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Anthony Araba were Rafiu Bankole, Kamoru Adeniran, Ayinde Akintoye, Jimoh Alabede and Soyinka Ishaq.
The prosecutor, Omo Osagie, told the court that the chiefs committed the offence on May 31, 2015 when they broke into the ‘Ogboni’ house without the approval of Osile Oke Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso.
Osagie argued that the accused persons conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by flouting the order of the monarch.
The police said the suspects brought uniformed military personnel, attached to Operation Mesa, to intimidate the people of Ilugun and forcefully entered ‘Ogboni’ house, located there and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24a(d) of the criminal code Vol.1 Laws of Ogun State.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N250,000 and two sureties in the like sum.
Τhe Chief Magistrate ordered that the controversial shrine must remain closed pending the determination of the case.
The case was adjourned to December 4, 2015 for the further hearing.