The Ogun State Police Command has arraigned the suspended Olorile of Orile Ifo, Oba Abdulsemiu Ogunjobi, before a magistrate court in the Ifo Division of the State.
Oba Ogunjobi was seen in a viral video assaulting a 73-year-old man, Abraham Areola.
The Police Prosecutor, Inspector O. Awoleke, in a charge sheet numbered MH2b8c/2025 (Commissioner of Police vs Abdul-Semiu), stated that the accused was arraigned on three counts: conspiracy, assault, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.
The charge reads as follows:
“That Abdul-Semiu (m) and others at large, on the 21st of January, 2025, at about 11:00hrs at Sojuolu Street, Ifo Magisterial District, did conspire to commit a misdemeanor, namely: assault and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.
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“That you, Abdul-Semiu (m) and others now at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully assault one Areola Abraham by slapping him on his face and ear, and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 351 of the Criminal Code Law of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you, Abdul-Semiu (m) and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by forcing one Areola Abraham (m) to kneel down and assaulting him in public, and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.”
The accused, who appeared before Magistrate F.A. Iroko, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate granted bail to the accused in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties in like sum, who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
The case was adjourned until March 6 for hearing.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the State commended the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration for its swift action in suspending Ogunjobi for six months.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abeokuta and signed by its chairman, Comrade Solomon Bankole, the CSOs urged that the matter should not be allowed to die at the preliminary stage, in the interest of the victim’s well-being.
Bankole expressed disgust over Oba Ogunjobi’s role in the public humiliation of the elderly man, forcing him to prostrate on the highway and subjecting him to physical assault by palace aides.
“It beats our imagination to witness the disturbing video of the humiliation of 74-year-old Chief Areola, where a supposed custodian of Yoruba cultural beliefs and norms was seen ranting like someone bitten by a rabid dog,” Bankole said.
“As a Yoruba man, it is against our culture and tradition to have children physically assaulting the elders, let alone a traditional ruler supervising such public humiliation of someone old enough to be his father.”
“I watched and listened to that video, which has now gone viral, and I must say it was horrifying and unacceptable in our society.”
“Watching that 73-year-old man helplessly on his knees, enduring a barrage of curses and receiving a slap from a palace slave was a shocking and nightmarish sight.”
“Chief Areola was indeed caught on the wrong side of the monarch’s law, and he was dragged to the floor and dehumanized before the world.”
“Ogun CSOs fully support the state government’s action in suspending the power-drunk monarch, the Olorile of Orile Ifo, Oba Abdul-Semiu Ogunjobi, who publicly humiliated the septuagenarian, Chief Areola.”
Similarly, the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in the State has also commended the State government and the Police Command for their actions to ensure justice for the victim of the Orile Ifo assault.
The PCRC has called on the police to arrest the person who slapped the victim as well.
The State PCRC chairman, Ven (Dr.) Samson Kunle Popoola, assured the public of its unbiased stance on issues affecting the fundamental human rights of the people of the State.
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