Traditional Ruler Remanded After Suspension For Allegedly Raping 14-Year-Old Girl In Osun

The accused monarch had since Thursday remanded in police custody after the Ijesa North Traditional Council and Obokun Chieftaincy Committee suspended him over the allegation.

The announcement of the suspension of Aketewi of Iketewi in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Olusiji Ogungbemi for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl was made at an emergency meeting held on Sunday, 17th of May, 2020 at the palace of Elegboro of Ijebujesa, Oba (Engr) Moses Oluwafemi Agunsoye.

According to the monarchs agreement as reported by nationnewslead: “That His Royal Highness Oba Olusiji Ogungbemi, The Aketewi of Iketewi in Obokun Local Government Area be suspended with immediate effect from all activities of Ijesa North Traditional Council and Obokun Chieftaincy Committee pending the decision of the court.

“The Council will like to inform the public that it was an error and misinformation for some media to have mentioned Oba Adejoro Otebolaku, The Owalare of Ilare as the culprit in the case. Oba Owalare of Ilare was never involved.

“The picture in the social media that showed Alahun of Ilahun as the offender mentioned above is not correct. The offender has been no other person than the Aketewi of Iketewi and not the Alahun of Ilahun nor Owalare of Ilare, while Aketewi was wrongly accused alongside his son Gbenga and one Sarafa of defiling a 14-year-old girl in Ilare Ijesa before now.

After Aketewi of Iketewi and two other defendants were on Thursday arraigned before Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara of an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court, ASP John Idoko who is the Police propsecutor alleged that the defendant sexually exploited the 14-year-old girl and impregnated her in the process after conspired amongst themselves to commit a felony to wit rape and sexual exploitation and told the court that the trio committed the offence on May 5, 2020, at Ilare-Ijesha.

After the arraignment on three-count charge bothering on conspiracy, rape and sexual exploitation, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them, while the defence counsel to the monarch and his son, Mrs Yinka Popoola, and that of the third defendant, Tunbosun Oladipupo, while applying for bail, urged the court to admit their clients to bail in most liberal terms, assuring the court that they would not jump bail.

After order of the Chief Magistrate, Dr Ayilara that the accused person be remanded in police custody, the magistrate adjourned the case for ruling on the application till May 18, 2020.