The suspended Olorile of Orile Ifo, Oba Abdulsemiu Ogunjobi, has been remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Ilaro, over failure to meet bail conditions.
Recall that a Magisterial Court in Ifo, on Tuesday, granted the suspended monarch bail with two sureties in N5 million each in like sum and must be residents within the court jurisdiction.
The spokesperson of NCS, Yinka Odukoya, confirmed the development to newsmen in Abeokuta, on Wednesday.
He said, “Yes, he is in our custody and this definitely means that he was unable to perfect the bail conditions as granted by the court yesterday but as soon as he is able to do that he will be allowed to go.”
The suspended monarch appeared before the Court, on Tuesday, on a three count charge, bordering on conspiracy; assault and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
The Ogun State Police Command had on Tuesday arraigned the suspended monarch over a viral video in which he was seen assaulting a 73-year-old man, Abraham Areola.
According to the charge sheet (MH2b8c/2025), the suspended monarch was accused of conspiracy, assault, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.
The charge read: “That Abdul-Semiu ‘m’ and others at large, on 21st January 2025, at about 1100 hrs at Sojuolu Street, Ifo Magisterial District, did conspire to commit a misdemeanor, to wit: assault and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you, Abdul-Semiu ‘m’, and others now at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully assault one Areola Abraham by slapping him on the face and ear, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 351 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you, Abdul-Semiu ‘m’, and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by forcing one Areola Abraham ‘m’ to kneel down and assaulting him in public, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.”
The accused, who appeared before Magistrate F. A. Iroko pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
The court granted him bail with two sureties in the sum of N5m each, who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
The case was adjourned to March 6 for a hearing.
A viral video showing Ogunjobi verbally and physically assaulting Areola sparked widespread condemnation.
In the two-minute footage, Areola was forced to kneel on the road while Ogunjobi berated him with curses and accused him of conspiring against him and his family.
The suspended monarch, reportedly a retired police officer, boasted about his connections within law enforcement and threatened to have Areola jailed.
At one point, one of Ogunjobi’s aides struck the elderly man and ordered him to prostrate before the monarch.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Ogun State has commended the state government for swiftly suspending the monarch.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Solomon Bankole, on Tuesday, the group condemned the assault and called for full prosecution.
Similarly, the state Police Community Relations Committee commended both the government and the police for taking swift action to ensure justice for the victim.
The PCRC also called on the police to arrest the individual who slapped the victim.
The State PCRC Chairman, Samson Kunle Popoola, assured the public of the committee’s impartial stance on matters affecting the fundamental human rights of Ogun State residents.