Ogun govt suspends Orile Ifo monarch for 6 months over public assault, humiliation of 73-year-old

By OUR REPORTER, Abeokuta

Government of Ogun State has proactively responded to a video revelation surfacing on Monday February 3, 2025, wherein the Olorile of Orile Ifo in Ifo Local Government Area of the state, Oba Abdulsemiu Adewale Ogunjobi, was captured to be involved in an indefensible brutality against an apparently helpless 73-year-old man, Chief Abraham Areola.

The Dapo Abioldun-led government, without wasting time, looked into the matter, found the much talked about monarch to be having questions to answer and then slammed him with punishment that has now placed the Oba Ogunjobi on a six-month suspension for his uncivil conduct not befitting the status of a royal majesty of any clime.

The DEFENDER had on Monday privately escalated a video clip of the royal brutality to Ogun State authorities including the state Police Command demanding that urgent actions were taken especially as the monarch appeared boastfully on the video to be untouchable as he claimed to fear no one, not even any law enforcement agency established by law to check excesses that powerful men are capable of perpetrating against fellow citizens who are weak.

In a report published by this global online newspaper, some Nigerians angered by the scene of the video called for investigation of the king with a view to finding out how many such people he might have killed and buried without anybody knowing as he personally revealed in his boasting on the video.

According to a statement from the Special Adviser to Gov Dapo Abiodun on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, on Monday, the decision to suspend the erring monarch was reached after Oba Ogunjobi and his victim, 73-year-old Areola Abraham, were invited by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. 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”.

Meanwhile, the Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) had, on Monday, petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, demanding the arrest and prosecution of Oba Ogunjobi for assaulting Abraham Areola in the viral video.

The National Vice President of CDHR, Mr Yinka Folarin, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Abeokuta on Monday.

Folarin said that Oba Ogunjobi is said to be found of allegedly going about with thugs to intimidate and harass members of the public while using his influence as a former police officer to perpetrate all forms of nefarious activities.

He explained that “The atrocities of Oba Ogunjobi as captured in a viral video include the recent assault on Elder Areola Abraham Love JP, a 73-year-old resident of Ifo, on January 21, 2025.

“Elder Areola Abraham Love JP was beaten by Oba Semiu Adewale Ogunjobi and members of his suspected killer squad.

“The victim, an elderly man with an ailment, narrated his ordeal, stating that he was going to get food when the Olorile of Ifo saw and called him.

“He respectfully crossed to honour the call, only to be attacked by the Oba, who slapped him severally and ordered his squad to descend on him; all pleas by the old man meant nothing to the Oba, who is notorious for his thuggery and public assaults”.

Folarin said that the viral video and the testimonies of the victim revealed that Ogunjobi assaulted Areola, slapped him severally, kicked and forced him to kneel down and prostrate, an act that was carried out by himself and his men.

The CDHR has therefore urged the IG to ensure the arrest and prosecution of Oba Ogunjobi to establish that no one is indeed above the law, no matter the status in the society.

The association also urged the state governor to within 72 hours commence the process to remove Oba Ogunjobi from office for descrating the traditional stools and for not behaving in way that hold the traditional stools in high esteem and greater respect.

Speaking during the press briefing, Areola said he had done nothing to warrant such a humiliating attack from the royal father.

The community leader said that the attack has left him traumatised and he is now very afraid of his life.

He said, “I asked him what I did, but he never wanted to listen to me; he only wanted to molest me; that is what he does. When he gets to his hotel, he will now be showing them the video; he will say look at how he was begging me; I molested him and made him beg.

“He said he is in control of the police, that he will kill me and nothing will happen, I however want Nigeria government to save me from him, he said he would kill me and nothing will happen. I am now very afraid of my life.”

Ogunjobi had sparked outrage after a viral video surfaced showing him verbally and physically assaulting Areola.

In the footage, some men with Ogunjobi were seen slapping the elderly man and forcing him to kneel and prostrate.

The incident led to widespread condemnations.