A Chief Magistrate Court in Isabo, Abeokuta, on Wednesday sentenced five Egba chiefs to six months imprisonment for defacing a sealed letter and removing a caution tape placed on the Ogboni Igbore house by the Abeokuta South Local Government.
The court also provided the option of a N50,000 fine for each of the convicts.
The five chiefs, identified as Anthony Ogunseye (55), the Apena of Igbore; Ajasa Enisemo (67); Saheed Sanusi (50); Oludotun Oliyide (60); and Fatai Mutairu (63), faced a four-count charge of conspiracy, malicious damage, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, and stealing.
These charges were in violation of sections 451, 516, 249(d), and 383 of the Ogun State Criminal Code, Vol II, Laws of 2006.
Magistrate E.O. Ogunyemi, in her ruling, stated, “The prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused are guilty as charged.” She further noted, “The evidence presented by the prosecutor is tenable, and I therefore sentence each of the chiefs to six months, with an option of a N50,000 fine each.”
Earlier, Inspector Olaide Rawlings, who prosecuted the case, informed the court that the offences were committed on March 21, 2023, around 12:15 pm, at the Ogboni House in the Igbore area.
Rawlings explained that the defendants had acted in unison to damage the sealed letter issued by the Abeokuta South Local Government and affixed to the doors, windows, and walls of the Ogboni House.
She stated that the house had been sealed off for security reasons due to a crisis over a chieftaincy title.
Additionally, the prosecutor alleged that the chiefs removed caution tape from the property, an act deemed likely to provoke a breach of peace.
“They also stole two billboards that were fixed on the doors of the Ogboni Igbore house by the local government,” Rawlings added.
The prosecutor emphasized that the actions of the defendants violated the specified sections of the criminal code.
