Deji deposed, banished, arrested

Written by Yinka Oladoyinbo, Akure Friday, 11 June 2010

THE five-year reign of the Deji of Akure, Oba Oluwadare Adepoju Adesina, Osupa III, ended abruptly on Thursday as the Ondo State government deposed him from the stool.

The government has also directed Akure traditional chiefs to submit names of a possible regent for the town pending the appointment of a new traditional ruler.

Apart from deposing the monarch, he was also banished to a yet-to-be-announced town in Ondo State, according to the provisions of Section 17 (1) and (2) of the Chiefs Law 1984 of Ondo State.

However, minutes before his deposition was made public, men of the Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Police had stormed the palace, arrested and whisked him away.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ranti Akerele, who spoke with newsmen after a meeting of the state executive council, said Adesina’s removal and banishment were with immediate effect.

The commissioner, who was flanked by his counterpart in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Diran Iyantan and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, and the Special Duties commissioner, Mr. Niran Sule-Akinsuyi, said the monarch was deposed over his action against his wife.

The monarch has been at the centre of controversy since Sunday, May 30, when he allegedly engaged in a public fight with his estranged wife, Bolanle.

Adesina, according to eyewitnesses, came to the Number 141, Hospital Road, Akure, residence of his wife in the company of some palace chiefs and another wife identified as Remi Abiola.

Bolanle was said to have been attacked and a white substance believed to be ashes mixed with chemicals was poured on her, inflicting body injury on the woman.

Akerele said, “The executive council of Ondo State government has approved the deposition of Oba Adesina Adepoju, the Deji of Akure, with effect from today (Thursday). The state also announces the relocation of the deposed monarch to a safe place pending further decisions of the security agencies on him as they relate to the criminal aspect of his actions against his wife.

“In exercising the provision of section 17 (1) and (2) of the Chiefs Law 1984 as amended, vest the state executive council with the powers to suspend or depose any chief if it considers such suspension or deposition to be reasonably justifiable.

“Before arriving at this decision, government had taken its time to study the reports of the security agencies, reports from well-meaning Akure citizens on both sides of the divide and particularly the response of the deposed monarch to a query issued by the relevant office of government.

“Government also studied the position of the state council of traditional rulers before arriving at the decision which it believes is in the best interest of the people of Akure and the womanhood.”

The commissioner stated that government was deliberate, meticulous and firm in considering the development, adding that government took its time to follow the provisions of the laws of the land.

Akerele said, “The allegations against the deposed monarch, we need to emphasise, touched on deep values that we hold dear as a people, that was why we insisted on handling them with a clear focus, hoping that at the end of it all, justice will be seen to have been manifestly done to all.

“In the present circumstance, the government, after due recourse to laid down procedures and having found compelling evidence of punishable infractions, has no other alternative but to visit the required punitive action on the controversial Oba.”

Akerele added that government had given instructions to traditional chiefs in the town to submit names of people that could possibly become the regent of the town.

He said government would thereafter choose one of those presented and appoint the person regent pending the appointment of a new monarch.

But the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Adeniran Aremu, said he could not confirm the arrest of the deposed monarch.

He said the command would get back to the press at the appropriate time.