Tension in Ota over Ogun monarch’s planned arrest

BY DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA —  Anxiety has gripped members of traditional  council  and residents of Ijoko Ota in Ado-Odo Local Government Area of Ogun State following the order of arrest by  Justice Mobolaji Ojo of the  State  High Court over contempt .

Justice Ojo  had ordered that  Chief Lasisi  Ogunseye  be arrested and remanded in prison  for two months for parading himself as Onijoko of Ijoko Ota contrary to courts judgements.

A  contempt charge was filed  against the convict on May 17, 2012 at the Ota High Court by  Chief Fatai Alani Matanmi, the Onijoko of Ijoko-Ota .

Vanguard gathered that, the judgement rattled the traditional council of the embattled monarch who was installed by the Olowu of Owu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu as a coronet Oba in 2006.

Police spokesman in OgunState, Muyiwa Adejobi, could not be reached for comment  at press time.

It was further gathered that the embattled Oba had been allegedly advised to go into hiding to evade police arrest today.

The presiding judge, who had frowned at the alleged  refusal of  Ogunseye to appear before the court and as well stop parading  himself as an Oba, said  the defendant believed he was above the law .

He said: “I hold that this is an appropriate situation in which the court may punish the contemnor for his contempt.

“This application, therefore, succeeds and it is granted as prayed. The respondent/party cited is guilty of the orders of this court.

“I hereby order that the respondent, Lasisi Kolapo Ogunseye, be arrested forthwith and remanded in prison custody for a period of 60 days in the first instance until he purges himself of his contempt of this court.”

Justice Ojo had also ordered that a copy of the order be served on the Area Commander, Nigeria Police, Ota, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, the Attorney-General of OgunState and the Governor of Ogun State.

A source within the traditional council in the area who craved anonymity told Vanguard that the people of Ijoko had been in dilemma  before the judgement on who to accept as their Oba among the two warring personalities.

He said with the recent judgement which ordered the arrest of Oba Kolapo, the controversy trailing  the  obaship in the area might end.