Palace breaks silence over alleged arrest of Ataoja

The palace of Ataoja of Osogbo, has reacted to the alleged arrest of Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun (Larooye ll), Ataoja of Osogbo.

In a press statement signed by the Secretary to the Osogbo Traditional Council, Wasiu Bello in Osogbo, described the misleading information about Ataoja on social media as misleading and untrue.

Read full statement below

This is to announce to the generality of the good people of Osun State that it is a misinformation that Ataoja of Osogboland was arrested and detained in Abuja by security operatives. The truth of the matter is that Ataoja voluntarily travelled to Abuja following the invitation by the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Headquarters Office in Abuja to clear the air regarding the petition instituted against him by the Oloba of Oba- Ile purportedly written by one of his chiefs, Elemo, Mr Salawu Fasaasi Adeoye.

On the entourage of the Ataoja were Osogbo Traditional Council Secretary, Personal Assistant and Accounts Officer of the Office of Ataoja to clear the air on the purported petition regarding the allegation of issuance of dude cheques to Oloba-Ile-in-Council.

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Whereas, the allegation was misleading as the Council’s account was funded more than the money to be cashed by the beneficiaries as at the time those cheques in question were signed and thereafter.

Oloba-Ile and his Chiefs intentionally delayed those cheques before presenting it to the bank for withdrawal while the bank (name withheld) sought for confirmation to validate the approval from the Ataoja being the Chief Accounting Officer and The President of Osogbo Traditional Council before collection.

In accordance with the guidelines of Traditional Council’s funding, only the Directors of Administration and Finance are the two statutory signatories to the said account while Ataoja countersigns to approve the release of fund. The money due to the petitioner had however been withdrawn by him from the Council’s account before putting down his petition to the Police.

According to the Commissioner of Police in charge of the case, he submitted that he was happy to hear that the petitioner had withdrawn the money from the council’s account as reflected in the bank statements which make the claim null and void and absolved the Accounts Officer of the Osogbo Traditional Council of criminal offence, let alone the Ataoja,

He however said that the Police will continue their investigations to verify the authenticity of the statements of account produced as evidence and will proceed to interview the bank officials as well.

The Ataoja who superintends over the Oloba-Ile’s stool severally requested him to submit his bank details like other monarchs in the Council to enable his allowances and that of his Chiefs paid directly but failed to yield results.

Prior to this, a lingering crisis between Ataoja and Oloba Ile within Osogbo Traditional Council could have been the main reason for his action rather than seeking amicable resolution within the Osogbo Traditional Council or the State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

The aggrieved monarch lays claim to the most senior monarch in Olorunda Local Government as the new Deputy Chairman of Osun State Council of Obas and Chiefs and seeking independence. This fact transpired in his petition while addressing Ataoja as “Figure Head” in Olorunda Local Government which is also in Osogbo metropolitan district city and the Capital of Osun State.

The other two Monarchs who are also members of the Council namely Oloba Oke and Alie usually condemned the petitioner’s domineering attitude, arrogance and noncompliance to the traditional rules. For this reasons he boycotted several meetings and do not associate with other Osogbo Traditional Council’s Obas even at very important events like festivals.