ROYAL BRUTALITY: Police quizzes Ogun monarch who beat, threatened to bury 73-year-old man unquestionably

By KEMI KASUMU

“The Ogun State Police Command unequivocally condemns any form of assault, harassment and violence regardless of the individuals involved,” said CSP Omolola Odutola, Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer.

The Ogun State Police Command has interrogated the Olorile of Orile Ifo, in Ifo Local Government Area of the state, Oba Abdulsemiu Adewale Ogunjobi, for engaging in public assault against a defenceless 73-year-old Chief Abraham Areola as revealed in a vital video.

Ogunjobi had sparked outrage after the viral video surfaced showing him verbally and physically assaulting Areola, who was beaten by his approval with him personally to bury him if he died and nobody would know.

In the video clip, Chief Areola was seen kneeling on the roadside while a man, whose identity has since been confirmed to be Ogunjobi, cursed him and his family while accusing him of an allegation of conspiracy.

The monarch, reportedly a retired police officer, also boasted of his influence over law enforcement agencies, threatening to jail the chief.

At one point, one of the thugs believed to be working for the traditional ruler slapped and humiliated the elderly victim even as he ordered him to prostrate before the king which he helplessly did in a video scene that erroneously portrays Nigeria as a country not regulated by law.

His claiming to process the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies and cannot be checked by anyone in the home state of the nation’s Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, made his matter more interesting to everyone now beyond the shores of Nigeria.

The incident has led to widespread condemnations as everyone is calling for justice for Areola and investigation of the boastful “almighty” Yoruba Oba with a view to knowing how many other innocent Nigerians of his domain he might have killed and buried without anybody knowing in the past, as revealed in his verbal threats to the helpless victim in the video.

In a post via his X handle on Monday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuiywa Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, disclosed that the monarch has been invited and interrogated over the excesses involving him.

Adejobi, himself a Nigerian citizen blue blood in his veins, took exception to the unmajestic rascality displayed by the Olorile of Orile Ifo, as he also stated that the Nigeria Police Force cannot be controlled by any individual, stating that justice will be served.

He wrote, “The Oba has been invited and interrogated today by the command. The matter is being looked into for justice to prevail. Nobody can claim to be controlling the NPF. Justice must be served by all means. Thanks.”

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government has placed the monarch on a six-month suspension for his uncivil conduct not befitting the status of an Oba.

The decision, according to a statement from the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Communication and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, on Monday, was reached after Oba Ogunjobi and his victim, 73-year-old Areola Abraham, were invited by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, for interrogation.

Akinmade said, “This became imperative as a result of the reckless utterances and public misconduct of the Kabiyesi as it was evident in the social media and being bandied in the larger public space.

“After the investigation conducted on the matter, the Kabiyesi has been suspended and stripped of the paraphernalia of the stool of Olorile-Ifo pending the determination of his culpability or otherwise on the allegation.

“The foregoing decision was reached by the ministry in conjunction with the Egba Traditional Council in accordance with Section 52(1) of the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State 2021.”

In a separate statement, the Ogun State Police Command said that it has begun investigation into the alleged assault of the 73-year-old man by the monarch.

The state police command in a statement on Monday sent to journalists on Monday by its Spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, said that the essence of the investigation was to uphold the course of justice.

Odutola said that both parties, that is, the royal father and community leader had been at the state police command to state their respective sides of the story.

The statement reads, “The Ogun State Police Command has taken cognizance of a disturbing video circulating on social media, in which an elderly man, Mr. Areola Abraham was seen prostrating while being subjected to verbal abuse and assault by Oba Abdulsemiu Adewale Ogunjobi, the Olorile of Orile Ifo.

“Given the gravity of the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered a thorough and discreet investigation into the matter, and further assures to adhere to the rule of law and fundamental human rights principles in the instant case.

“Both parties reported at the State Criminal Investigation Department Eleweran, and their statements were obtained

“The Ogun State Police Command unequivocally condemns any form of assault, harassment and violence regardless of the individuals involved.

“The command will ensure that justice is served and members of the public will be abreast of relevant updates in due course.”