Drama broke out on Monday at the premises of an Osun State High Court sitting in Ede as operatives of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) arrested the Elegbedi of Egbedi, Oba Muideen Azeez.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the monarch was arrested shortly after appearing before Justice Kudirat Akano on charges bordering on arson.
He was arraigned alongside Akeeb Azeez Abioye, Yisa Surajudeen Akolapo, Rasidi Ayandiran and Sarafadeen Abioye.
The defendants were accused of committing the alleged offences on September 3, 2019, at a farm in Iloba within the Ede Judicial Division.
They were alleged to have been armed with firearms and offensive weapons during the incident.
The prosecution alleged that they robbed Wasilatu Akinola and other women processing palm oil of about 70 kegs of palm oil, palm kernel, palm fruits, goats and other domestic animals valued at about ₦10 million.
Police Witness Testifies
During Monday’s proceedings, defence counsel, M. Atobatele, called four witnesses, including three police operatives and the palace secretary.
One of the police witnesses, Assistant Superintendent of Police Akindosu Olusoji, told the court that he served at the Ido-Osun Police Division between 2019 and 2021.
Olusoji said it was the monarch who called to complain that someone had destroyed his farm.
He said, “One other officer and I visited the area in Egbedi. At the farm, I met a pastor and some other labourers using chemicals in a spraying machine to spray the maize crops on the farm, and I asked who he was, and he said he was the owner of the farm.
“I asked why he was destroying it if he was the owner. So, I got him and the labourers arrested. I obtained their statements and they were detained, and I continued with the investigation. I never arrested any of the defendants. They were the ones who came to complain.”
After the proceedings, Justice Akano adjourned the matter till June 17 for continuation of the hearing. However, shortly after the session, police operatives arrested the monarch within the court premises and took him away.
According to Punch, the Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the arrest.
He said the operatives acted on a court order and a remand warrant.
Ojelabi said, “The officers acted strictly based on a court order. There was an arrest and remand warrant issued by a court.
“He was arrested and remanded in the Ile-Ife Correctional Centre based on a court order.”