5 traditional chiefs sent to jail for breach of peace

Not less than five traditional chiefs in Egba were sent to six months imprisonment by a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, on Wednesday for maliciously damaging the sealed letter and removing the caution tape pasted by the Abeokuta South Local Government on the Ogboni Igbore house.

Names of the affected Igbore chiefs include; Anthony Ogunseye (55), the Apena of Igbore, Ajasa Enisemo (67); Saheed Sanusi (50); Oludotun Oliyide (60); and Fatai Mutairu (63).

However, the court gave the chiefs option of a N50,000 fine.

They were convicted on a four-count charge of conspiracy, malicious damage, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and stealing contrary to…..sections 451, 516, 249(d) and 383 of the criminal code, Vol II, laws of Ogun 2006.

While delivering the judgement, the presiding magistrate, Mrs. E.O. Ogunyemi, said, “The prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused are guilty as charged. “The evidence presented by the prosecutor is tenable, and I therefore sentence each of the chiefs to six months, with an option of a N50,000 fine each.”

Meanwhile, the prosecutor, Inspector Olaide Rawlings had earlier told the court that the five defendants committed the offence on March 21, 2023, at about 12:15 pm at the Ogboni House in the Igbore area, adding that the chiefs conspired among themselves to maliciously damage the sealed letter of the Abeokuta South local government that was pasted on the walls, doors and windows of the Ogboni House.

Watch Our Video of the Week 👇

,,____She explained that the Ogboni house was sealed by the local government for security reasons following the crisis which erupted over a chieftain title in the Ogboni house, saying the chiefs conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by deliberately removing the caution tape placed on the Ogboni house.

___“They also stole two billboards that were fixed on the two doors of the Ogboni Ignore house by the local government,” she said

The prosecutor, however, said the offence committed contravened sections 451, 516,249(d) and 383 of the….criminal code, Vol II laws of Ogun 2006.

At the time of filing this report, the affected chiefs were looking for ways to choose the fine instead of jail term through their counsel.