Oba Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, traditional ruler of the Ayetoro community in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, was on Tuesday remanded in police custody by an Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court over allegations of armed robbery and arson.
The monarch was arrested by the police for conduct likely to cause breach of peace in the coastal community.
According to the police prosecutor, Olatunji Kazeem, the suspect and others at large, while armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons, conspired to rob five people of various sums of money.
The monarch was arraigned on nine counts.
The prosecutor accused Ojagbohunmi of conspiracy to commit felony to wit; armed robbery, contrary to and punishable under Section 5(b) of the Robbery and Fire Arms (Special Provision) Act, cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The defendant and the others at large were also accused of robbing one Ajimijere Ayodele of a Tiger generator and the sum of N160,000.
Ojagbohunmi was also accused of shooting one Olu Obolo in the leg and inflict machete cuts on him in the rear pelvic girdle, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 320 (1) of the Criminal Code cap 37, volume 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
The charges read in part, “That you, Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, and others at large, between October 7, 2018 and now, at Ayetoro community within the Ondo State Magisterial District, did allow yourself to be installed as the Oba Ogeloyinbo, having not been approved by the executive council of Ondo State, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 15 (2) (a) (b) of the Chiefs Law of Ondo State, 2006.”
The prosecutor prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody pending the hearing of the bail application.
However, the counsel for the defendant, Mr Olusola Oke, told the court that he had not been properly served with the charges as required by the law, saying he needed 24 hours to file the necessary application for the bail of the defendant.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Mayomi Olanipekun ordered the defendant to be remanded in police custody till the hearing of the case by January 24.
