Police arraign two for assault, stealing in Ogun

By Peter Adedoyin

The Ogun State Police Command has arraigned two suspects, Seeni Sodipo and Lateef Olamilekan for assaulting a village Head, Chief Edunjobi Seun, the Baale of Eruku Baagbon, in Itori area of Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state 

The suspects were arraigned on before a Magistrate Court sitting at Itori.

The suspects were accused of criminally assaulting Chief Edunjobi and stealing of a ram meant for sacrifice.

It was gathered that the ram worth N200,000.

One of the accused, Seeni Sodipo who is the son of the Onijagunna of Jaguna in Itori, was alleged to have led some cultists to violently attack Chief Edunjobi at his domain.

It was alleged that the two accused and others at large who were said to be members the dreaded Aye Cult, violently attacked Chief Edunjobi for sidelining, the Onijagunna of Ajaguna, Oba Semiu Sodipo for his installation as Baale, and also for bringing out 'Oro' cult to celebrate his installation.

The incident which was said to have occured at about 10pm on 24th February, 2023 led to serious fracas leaving no less than five persons sustaining varying degree of injury.

"About six cultists led by Seeni Sodipo, the son of Oba Semiu Sodipo Olajubu, the Onijagunna of Jaguna Otedola came to invade the town, accusing us of installing a Baale in Eruku Baagbon, along Gasline area. They came with dangerous weapons, and use sticks, cutlass, broken bottles to unleash mayhem on the people.

They also used the firewoods we were using to cook to beat us and inflict deep injury on many of the visitors that came to celebrate my installation as Baale Eruku that day.

It was during the beating that they told us that Oba Olajubu sent them and that they accused me of bypassing Kabiyesi when I was to be installed as Baale.

The land does not belong to Jaguna, this town is my ancestral home and we don't take order from Jaguna, but we belong to Eruku. 

At their arraignment on Tuesday, Counsel to the defendants, Rahman Abitokan asked for the accused to be granted bail, saying the offence is bailable.

He argued that it's the constitutional right of the accused and based on section 36 of the Constitution and Section 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Ogun State "but it's the discretion of the Court to grant them bail"

Opposing the bail application, the prosecutor argued that the victim is still in the hospital and that they intend to amend the charge against the accused.

"He is still lying critically at the hospital. He suffered a deep cut in the neck, head and hands and with serious burns"

Ruling on the bail application, the Magistrate, O.F. Adeduntan, granted the two accused persons bail with a surety and N500k, and adjourned the matter till 15th March, 2023.