The planned arraignment of Oba Solomon Akinola, a traditional ruler in Oyo State, on terrorism charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja was halted on Thursday due to strenuous objections to the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.
Despite the fact that Oba Akinola was not present in court to enter his plea, three of his high chiefs, Sunday Aderinto, 87, Samson Ogunmola, and Timothy Adewale Aderinto, were escorted to court under tight police security.
However, shortly after the three chiefs were put to the stand, their lawyer, Mr Jimoh Abdulsalam, objected to their pleas being taken to the crimes allegedly committed between May 10 and 21 of last year.
The counsel stated his challenge to the charges’ legality, claiming that the three chiefs, ages 87 to 71, are victims of a land dispute between the Oko and Aagba communities near Ogbomoso in Oyo state’s Surulere Local Government Area.
He told the court that only the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) can deal with terrorism charges and voiced his unhappiness that police branded a communal land issue as terrorism, adding that chiefs cannot take terrorism pleas.
The lawyer also challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit, noting that the chiefs who have spent 37 days in police detention were not properly before the court.
The problem was compounded by the inability of the prosecution to counter the oral objection of the defendants with any authority of the law.
Following the vehement objection to the arraignment on jurisdiction, Justice Obiora Egwuatu directed the defense counsel to put his objection in writing and serve the same on the prosecution.
Other chiefs billed for arraignment but said to be at large are Jimoh Asimiyu, Segun Gbadebo, Oluwole Ogundeji, Akintaro Mathew Piamo, Rafiu Ganiyu, Adejare Adeleru, and Zacheus Adeleru.
Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, filed the terrorism charges against them through an officer in the legal department of the Force Headquarters, Mr Orji Kalu.
The criminal charges among others indicated that the defendants while armed with dangerous weapons comprising cutlasses and knives allegedly conspired and invaded Aagba Community in Oyo State and kidnapped three people in addition to inflicting various degrees of injuries on their victims.
Those said to have been kidnapped are Atanda Akinwale, Olayiwola Gbadebo, and Olusola Agbebi contrary to section 1 (2) of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2013.
Also, they were accused of inflicting injuries on Muritala Alimi, Omilabu Oluwasegun, and Mrs Rachel Bamidele.
The charges also indicated that 4 tyres of Honda Pilot Jeep belonging to Baale of Aagba, Chief Adesola Ajiboye, a motorcycle worth N300, 000, a borehole, windscreen, pipes, and a bulldozer a farm were destroyed.
The defendants were further accused of stealing 15 bags of cement worth N450,000.
Meanwhile, Justice Egwuatu has fixed the matter for February 14 to take the objection of the defendants to the charges.
Source: Read more at thecable.ng
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
