Court jails five Ogun chiefs for six months over ‘breach of peace’

Five Egba chiefs have been sentenced to six months imprisonment by a Chief Magistrate Court in Isabo, Abeokuta, for damaging a sealed letter and removing a caution tape placed by the Abeokuta South Local Government on the Ogboni Igbore house.

The court, however, provided an option for each convict to pay a ₦50,000 fine.

The convicted chiefs include Anthony Ogunseye (55), the Apena of Igbore; Ajasa Enisemo (67); Saheed Sanusi (50); Oludotun Oliyide (60); and Fatai Mutairu (63). They were charged with conspiracy, malicious damage, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, and theft, contravening sections 451, 516, 249(d), and 383 of the Criminal Code, Vol. II, Laws of Ogun 2006.

Delivering her judgment, Magistrate E.O. Ogunyemi declared that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. “The evidence presented is credible, and I find the defendants guilty as charged,” she said. Ogunyemi sentenced the chiefs to six months imprisonment with an option of a ₦50,000 fine each.

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The prosecutor, Inspector Olaide Rawlings, told the court that the offence occurred on March 21, 2023, at about 12:15 p.m. at the Ogboni House in Igbore. Rawlings explained that the chiefs conspired to damage a sealed letter pasted by the local government and removed caution tape placed on the building for security reasons following a chieftaincy dispute.

Rawlings further stated that the chiefs conducted themselves in a manner likely to breach the peace and also stole two billboards affixed to the doors of the Ogboni House by the local government.

The court found the chiefs guilty under the specified sections of the Criminal Code, emphasizing the seriousness of their actions.