The police in Ogun State have arraigned a traditional ruler, Chief Folorunsho Balogun, who is the head of Ebute-Ibafo community, before Chief Magistrate, E.O Idowu (Mrs), of the Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Obafemi-Owode Magisterial District, on charges bordering on fraudulent conversion, a threat to life and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
Chief Balogun was alleged to have sold a parcel of land belonging to a man identified as Chief Olusegun Sonaya and fraudulently converted the proceeds of the sale to his own use
The Police Prosecutor, Temilehin Oredein, a legal officer with the State CID had alleged that Chief and others now at large, had on August 5, 2021, at Ago-Igbala, Ibafo in Mowe Magisterial District, conspired to commit felony to wit: forcible entry, a threat to life, malicious damage, fraudulent conversion and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act (revised) Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2016.
Part of the charge read; “That you Chief Folorunsho Balogun ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did with intent to intimidate and threatening with violence one Chief Michael Olusegun Sonaya ‘m’ and his daughter and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 86(1) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you Chief Folorunsho Balogun ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach Of peace by invading a parcel of land belonging to Chief Michael Olusegun Sonaya ‘m’ at Ibafo, Ogun State with armed thugs and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code revised Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2016.
“That you Chief Folorunsho Balogun ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did willfully damaged the house of one Chief Olusegun’ Michael Sonaya ‘m’ using caterpillars (graders) to demolish it and thereby ‘committed an offence punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Law of the Federation 2004.
“That you Chief Folorunsho Balogun ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did enter into the parcel of land at Ibafo Ogun State belonging to Chief Michael Olusegun Sonaya which has been In peaceful possession and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 4(1) of the provision of forcible entry and occupation of landed property and other violence-related offence, revised Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2016.
The prosecutor had prayed the court to remand the traditional ruler in the custody of the Correctional Centre, Abeokuta pending the issuance of legal advice and filing of information paper at the high court.
Chief Magistrate Idowu in her ruling had held that “after examining the entire exhibits attached to ex-parte motion especially the petition. This court hereby grants the prayers of the applicant that the respondent be remanded at the Correctional Centre. Abeokuta pending the issuance of legal advice and filing of information at the high court if need be
“However, due to the weight of the constitutional right of the respondent and considering the factors to be considered, it is ordered that the respondent be admitted to bail in the sum of N1 million with two responsible sureties in like sum,” she ruled.
The court further ordered that one of the sureties must be a recognised community leader while the other must live in and own a residential property within the court’s jurisdiction. They were also ordered to depose to an affidavit of means and show proof of verifiable residence, employment and payment of the current year tax.
The matter was adjourned till December 10, 2021, for mention.
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Police arraign traditional ruler on allegations of fraud, conspiracy