Nigerian Police Arraign Osun Kingmaker In Court Amid Plot To Impose Its Officer, SP Jokotola As Community Monarch
The kingmaker, Chief Rasheed Odeyemi, the Otun Balogun of Ido-Osun, had been arrested by the police on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned a kingmaker from the Ido-Osun community in the Egbedore local government area of Osun State.
The kingmaker, Chief Rasheed Odeyemi, the Otun Balogun of Ido-Osun, had been arrested by the police on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
It had been reported that the police authorities sought to impose one of his officers, Superintendent Jokotola Yinka as the future king (Oba) of the town, according to community sources who spoke to SaharaReporters.
The kingmaker was kept in Alagbon police station in Lagos State till yesterday (Monday) when the police eventually decided to arraign him secretly.
A court document obtained by SaharaReporters showed that the Kingmaker was charged before a Magistrate Court in Osogbo, Osun State.
“They (the police) planned to arraign him without informing anyone but someone that knows him saw him immediately when they took him to court,” one of his sons told SaharaReporters.
“That person called us immediately and we arranged a representative for him,” he added.
The document reads, “COUNT 1: That you RASHEED ODEYEMI ‘M’ and others now at large, on or about the month of May 2024 at Ido-Osun, Osun State, in the Osogbo Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit a Misdemeanor to wit: Threatening Violence and Conduct Likely to Cause Breach of Peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002
“COUNT 2: That you RASHEED ODEYEMI ‘M’, on or about the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did with intent to intimidate or annoy. unlawfully threaten to kill one Adewale Wakeel ‘male’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 86 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.Il Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
“COUNT III:- That you RASHEED ODEYEMI ‘M’ and others now at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of the public peace by engaging in threatening violence. extortion and garnering undue favour to some candidates to the throne of Ido-Osun with a promise to install them as the king, thereby causing panic/fear to the people of Ido- Osun, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.”
The court eventually granted the kingmaker’s bail application and released him to his family.
The case was adjourned till 2nd of December, 2024.
