Suspended Ogun monarch faces N200m lawsuit for assaulting elderly man
Suspended Ogun State monarch, Oba Semiu Ogunjobi, the Olorile of Orile Ifo, Ogun State, is facing an N200m lawsuit over the alleged assault of a 73-year-old man, Chief Abraham Areola, in public on January 21, 2025.
A suit number HCT/200/2025 was filed before the Ogun State High Court in Ota by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, who is representing Areola, demanding compensation and a public apology from the monarch.
The suit, obtained by PUNCH Metro on Sunday, seeks an order directing the suspended traditional ruler to issue an apology to be published in three national newspapers, including PUNCH Newspapers.
The elderly man seeks “an order directing the respondent to pay the sum of N200m to the applicant for the violation of his fundamental rights to life, dignity, and freedom of movement.
“An order directing the respondent to publish an apology to the applicant in PUNCH, Vanguard, and Nigerian Tribune newspapers.
“An order restraining the Respondent from further violating the fundamental rights of the applicant in any manner whatsoever.”
Speaking with PUNCH Metro on Sunday, February 2, 2025, Areola alleged that the monarch had threatened his life after a viral video showed him being brutally assaulted and publicly humiliated over an alleged chieftaincy dispute.
“He vowed to kill me,” Areola claimed.
The disturbing footage, which sparked widespread condemnation, shows one of the monarch’s aides snatching Areola’s cap as he stood visibly disoriented, while another individual struck him from behind despite his polite attempts to understand what he had done wrong.
Following the public outcry, the state government suspended the monarch for six months, and he is now facing prosecution over the incident.
Court documents obtained by PUNCH Metro on Sunday outline the declarations sought by Areola, including “A declaration that the systematic beatings, kicking, and striking of the applicant by the respondent and his agents before a crowd of people at Orile Ifo, Ifo, Ogun State, on January 21, 2025, constitute a threat to the life of the applicant and thereby violate his fundamental right to life guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“A declaration that the slapping and punching of the head of the applicant by the respondent and his agents before a crowd of people at Orile Ifo, Ifo, Ogun State, on January 21, 2025, constitutes cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment and thereby violates the fundamental right of the applicant to the dignity of his person guaranteed by Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“A declaration that the Respondent’s decision to subject the Applicant to kneel and prostrate on the ground at Orile Ifo, Ogun State, before a crowd of people at Orile Ifo, Ifo, Ogun State, on January 21, 2025, constitutes a violation of the fundamental right of the Applicant to the dignity of the Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“A declaration that the Respondent’s decision to subject the Applicant to physical harm, violence, threat, and intimidation before a crowd of people at Orile Ifo, Ifo, Ogun State, on January 21, 2025, constitutes a violation of the fundamental right of the Applicant to the dignity of his person guaranteed by Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
The monarch denied the allegations in an interview with PUNCH Metro in February 2025.
