Written by Taiwo Adisa, Ayodele Adesanmi and Yinka Oladoyinbo
Thursday, 10 June 2010
INSPECTOR General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, said on Wednesday that the Police were set to charge the Deji of Akure, Oba Oluwadare Adesina, before a court in Akure over an alleged assault on his estranged wife, Olori Bolanle.
The IGP, who spoke while appearing before the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, headed by Senator Gbenga Ogunniya, said that investigations by the police had confirmed that the Deji physically assaulted the Olori.
He said that the police would surely take the monarch to court.
He said: “Even though it is said to be a husband and wife case, the law cannot wait to allow a woman to be killed because she is a housewife. So we are taking him to court.”
The IG further said: “Police investigations revealed that the Deji assaulted her and that she was beaten by the suspect and white substance poured on her causing her severe bodily injuries.
“In view of the seriousness of the allegations and the need to preserve law and order, bearing in mind that no one is above the law, and considering the weighty evidences against the suspects, I have directed that they be charged to court for the assault occasioning harm, conspiracy and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.”
Chairman of the committee, Senator Ogunniya, said that the committee had to invite the IGP because it was concerned about public peace and order.
Also, the committee, on Wednesday, mandated the police to expedite action on the trial of the monarch and place him on confinement if possible.
A member of the committee, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said that the police should ensure that the monarch was placed under confinement to ensure that he didn’t harm other women.
He said: “Such a man descending so low to engage in a street fight should be kept under surveillance so that he doesn’t go and harm witnesses who have already given statements.
“The best thing to do is to assemble your lawyers so that the man could be taken to court immediately. By the time we come back from recess, we want to hear that this man has been arraigned and kept behind bars, so as to serve as lesson to other people who treat women badly.”
President of Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs. Ezinwa Okoroafor, who also appeared before the committee, said FIDA petitioned the Senate over the incident, saying “the action of the Oba is a breach of the criminal code. Action must be taken against the Oba because as custodian of the tradition of the people, his action has put the women in Akure at risk because if such a matter comes before him, he is not going to be fair to women.”
The organisation further said: “FIDA Nigeria wishes to express its concern and horror at this state of event and condemns same in the strongest terms. The action of the said Oba as reported, is not only illegal, but also barbaric and quite unbecoming of a person of his stature.”
Meanwhile, the crisis involving the Deji became messier on Wednesday as there were desperate moves to save the monarch from being dethroned.
A letter was said to have been written by the wife of the monarch, Bolanle, to the Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, purportedly saying that she was ready for reconciliation.
The letter, dated June 8 and addressed to the governor, said she had reflected on the chain of events since Sunday, May 30, and had concluded that there was the need to bury the hatchet in the spirit of reconciliation.
However, when contacted, the embattled Olori pointedly denied the letter and said there was no time she called for a truce over the imbroglio.
Speaking in a telephone interview from her hospital bed, Bolanle said she was not the author of the letter, alleging that somebody must have impersonated her.
She said she was yet to see a copy of the letter being circulated, adding that any correspondence on the matter would be handled by her lawyer who has been handling the case since the issue became public knowledge.
According to her, she was interested in justice and would be stupid to allow the incident and the allegations over the paternity of her children to be swept under the carpet.
Also speaking, counsel for the Olori, Mr. Olatunbosun Aganun, said no letter emanated from Bolanle to the governor and urged the state government and security agencies to discountenance the said letter.
He said that if any letter would be written to the governor, it would be from him and not directly from the Olori.
Aganun also threatened that if the police failed to arrest the Oba for the alleged criminal offence within two days, the Olori would approach the Federal High Court to seek an order of mandamus for the police to begin the prosecution of the Oba.
The letter, which was said to have been received in the office of the governor and offices of the security operatives in the state read, “Since my marriage to Kabiyesi, even before his ascension to the throne of his fathers, I have done all in my capacity to cherish him and promote our collective well-being and those of our precious two sons, princes of Akureland.
“As a husband, he has been a father and companion. As a king, he rules with humility and fear of God and fearlessly, even in the face of possible political persecution, defends what is just and noble.
“Both of us, our families, the royal court, Akure kingdom and possibly, our Sunshine state, have been subjected to avoidable stress and bad light by this unfortunate development. No sacrifice is too much in the interest of peace. I am most disturbed by the query from government, which might lead to unintended consequences which will do no one no good.”
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