The Ogun State government on Monday suspended Oba Semiu Ogunjobi, the Olorile of Orile-Ifo family, for six months over his alleged public attack and dehumanisation of a 73-year-old man, Chief Abraham Areola.
The decision was reached, according to a statement made available to newsmen by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade. The decision was reached after Oba Ogunjobi and his victim, 73-year-old Areola Abraham, were invited by the State Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, for interrogation.
He said, “This became imperative as a result of the reckless utterances and public misconduct of the Kabiyesi, as it was evident in the social media and being bandied in the larger public space.”
“After the investigation conducted on the matter, the Kabiyesi has been suspended and stripped of the paraphernalia of the stool of Olorile-Ifo pending the determination of his culpability or otherwise on the allegation.”
“The foregoing decision was reached by the Ministry in conjunction with the Egba Traditional Council in accordance with Section 52(1) of the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State 2021.”
Meanwhile, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), at a press conference in Abeokuta, condemned the attack on Areola, describing it as a gross violation of human rights.
Speaking at the press conference, the National Vice President of CDHR, Comrade Yinka Folarin, said, “Nobody, no matter how highly placed, is above the law. We will not allow this act of brutality to go unpunished. The traditional institution must be held accountable, and the rule of law must prevail.”
He added that the CDHR has petitioned the Ogun State government and security agencies, demanding an immediate investigation and prosecution of Oba Ogunjobi and his alleged killer squad.
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Folarin said, “The CDHR has given the state government a 72-hour ultimatum to act, warning that failure to address the situation will lead to massive protests at the Orile-Ifo palace and across the state.
His words: “Distinguished Nigerians, it has come to light that Oba Semiu Adewale Ogunjobi has been engaging in extortion and unlawful installation of chiefs beyond his jurisdiction. He has allegedly been extorting people and installing them as chiefs outside his jurisdiction, threatening peaceful coexistence and sustainable peace efforts”.
“Ogunjobi’s influence as a former policeman has been misused to criminally abuse human rights, with threats that he is above the law. The video evidence shows him attempting to take lives and boasting that he can kill without leaving traces, posing a danger to his continued reign as Oba in Orile Ifo.”
“The demands are clear; security agencies must restore normalcy, secure justice for victims, and investigate and prosecute Ogunjobi for attempted murder, public assault, and conduct likely to breach public peace against Elder Ariola Abraham Love JP”
“The security agency must investigate and bring to justice all those who were involved, especially those who are turned as his killer squad and other criminal activities that threaten the peace of Orile Ifo and generally.”.
“And that he should be investigated for other cases of missing persons within Orile Ifo Ifo generally”.
“We have also demanded that the Nigeria police force, the Inspector-General, must do everything possible to investigate the years of service of Oba Semiu Adewale Ogunjobi and expose his suspected criminal activities and secure justice for his many unknown victims.”.
“We are calling on the government of Ogun State to, as a matter of urgency, remove Oba Semiu Adewale Ogunjobi, who is only appearing as a terror by terrorising the people of Orile Ifo and Ifo in general.
“We are giving the state government a seventy-two-hour ultimatum that this Oba, whose reign is a reign of terror, be removed or else the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights will be left with no other option than to mobilise all its constituent units, allied organisations, and the good people of Ogun State to occupy the Orilefor palace and Ifor generally until justice is served.
“We are equally stating that the security agency must not sweep this case under the carpet. We are demanding that, without any form of bias, they should swing into action.
“And to the state government also, we are demanding that, as a matter of urgency, Elder Ariola Abraham Love be taken care of with immediate effect.”
Narrating his ordeal to newsmen at the press conference, the 73-year-old Areola called on the state government, well-meaning individuals, and non-governmental organisations to come to his aid and save his life from the traditional ruler.
Areola said the incident happened on January 21, 2025, when he went out of his house to buy food he wanted to eat when the monarch summoned him.
He said, that rather than engaging him in a civil discussion, the monarch slapped him multiple times and ordered his aides to beat him mercilessly, leaving him severely injured.
“The monarch Areola disregarded my health condition and told me that if I die, he would bury me anywhere without anybody knowing.”.
“I was the one being harassed in the video. The Oba of Olorile of Orile-Ifo is the one who assaulted me. It happened on January 21, 2025, around 11:00 am. I wasn’t feeling well, so I went out to get some food when he saw me. He called me over, and that’s when the beating started.
“I didn’t offend him in any way. In the video, you’ll hear me begging him to tell me what my offence was. I told him that if I had wronged him, he should have called for me. I still don’t know what my offence is.”
The Ogun State Police Command said it has launched an investigation into the assault of Areola by Oba Ogunjobi.
Spokesperson of the command, Omolola Odutola, who disclosed this in a statement, noted that the command “has taken cognisance of a disturbing video circulating on social media, in which an elderly man, Mr. Areola Abraham, was seen prostrating while being subjected to verbal abuse and assault by Oba Abdulsemiu Adewale Ogunjobi, the Olorile of Orile Ifo.”
The statement reads, “Given the gravity of the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered a thorough and discreet investigation into the matter and further assures adherence to the rule of law and fundamental human rights principles in the instant case.”
“Both parties reported to the State Criminal Investigation Department Eleweran, and their statements were obtained.”
“The Ogun State Police Command unequivocally condemns any form of assault, harassment, and violence regardless of the individuals involved.”
“The command will ensure that justice is served and members of the public will be abreast of relevant updates in due course.”
Source :Vanguard
