Three residents of Osogbo, capital of Osun State have been remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre over a land dispute between them and their traditional ruler, the Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun.
According to the state Ministry of Justice, the defendants – Lateef Jaye, Ibraheem Salawu and Waheed Ebiri – dispossessed the monarch of his parcel of land and also threatened his life.
The ministry dragged the trio before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo and slammed them with six count-charges bordering on forceful entry, land grabbing, contempt of court and threat to life.
Addressing the court, the prosecution team consisting of M. R. Faremi, Deputy Director of Public Prosecution and Ayodele Tifase, the state counsel, Ministry of Justice, said that the accused persons committed the offences in conspiracy with others at large on April 11, 2024.
The team argued that the trio grabbed and took over the land from the monarch, when he had been declared the owner of the land through a judgment of a State High Court.
Some of the charges read, “That you Lateef Jaye, Ibraheem Salawu, Waheed Ebiri and others now at large at Irepodun, Osogbo, Osun state on 11th of April, 2024 at noon within Osogbo Magisterial District did unlawfully grab and occupy a land belonging to and in possession of Oba Jimoh Olanipekun of Osogbo without a judgment of the court and thereby Committed an offence contrary to section 3(2) (3) of the Forceful Entry and Illegal Occupation of Landed Properties (prohibition) laws of Osun state 2019 and punishable under section 4(9) law of the same law.
“That you Lateef Jaye, Ibraheem Salawu, Waheed Ebiri, at the same time and place within the same Magisterial District unlawfully grab and take over a land belonging to Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, the Ataoja of Osogbo land contrary to Section 2(1) (2) of the forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties (prohibition) Laws of Osun State 2019.
“That you, Lateef Jaye, Ibraheem Salawu, Waheed Ebiri and others now at large at the same time and place forcibly enter Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, Ataoja of Osogbo land thereby committed and offence contrary to and punishable under section 81 of criminal code laws of Osun state 2002.
“That you, Lateef Jaye, Ibraheem Salawu, Waheed Ebiri in the same place, time and within the same Magisterial District, held in contempt the suit no. Hos/102/2018 delivered by Justice Ayo Oyebiyi on 29-3-22 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 133(9) of criminal code Laws of Osun state.
“That you, Lateef Jaye, Ibraheem Salawu, Waheed Ebiri and others at large, on 11th of April, 2024 at Onikoko area Ifelodun via, Osogbo threaten violence against Oba Sikiru Adewale, by threatening to kill him with cutlass and other dangerous weapon if he dares enter again the land at Onikoko Irepodun as representative in charge of the land for Ataoja which suit was validly won by Oba Jimoh Olanipekun in suit no. Hos/102/2018 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 86 of criminal code laws 2002.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the accusations. Their lawyer, Gbenga Awoyemi urged the court to grant them bail.
Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara granted them bail in the sum of N1million with two sureties each in the same amount. He said the sureties are to be a traditional chief recognized by the state government and a house owner within the court’s jurisdiction.
But the accused persons were unable to meet their bail conditions. They were taken to Ilesa correctional facility.