The suspended traditional ruler of Orile-Ifo, Oba Abdulsemiu Ogunjobi, has been remanded at the Ilaro Correctional Centre in Ogun State after failing to meet his bail conditions.
The spokesperson for the correctional facility, Yinka Odukoya, confirmed the development on Wednesday, stating that the monarch remained in custody because he had yet to perfect his bail terms.
“Yes, he is in our custody, which means he has been unable to meet the bail conditions granted by the court yesterday. However, as soon as he does, he will be released,” Odukoya said.
The Ogun State Police Command arraigned Ogunjobi on Tuesday following a viral video showing him assaulting a 73-year-old man, Abraham Areola.
According to court documents, the suspended ruler was charged with conspiracy, assault, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.
The charge sheet states, On January 21, 2025, Ogunjobi and others, now at large, allegedly conspired to commit a misdemeanor by assaulting and engaging in conduct likely to disrupt public peace, the monarch was accused of unlawfully slapping Areola on the face and ear, he was also alleged to have publicly humiliated the elderly man by forcing him to kneel before assaulting him.
These offenses contravene Sections 517, 351, and 249(d) of the Ogun State Criminal Code Laws, 2006.
Ogunjobi pleaded not guilty before Magistrate F. A. Iroko, who granted him bail with two sureties in the sum of ₦5 million each. The sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
The incident, captured in a two-minute video, triggered widespread condemnation. In the footage, the monarch was seen berating Areola, accusing him of conspiring against his family.
The video also showed one of Ogunjobi’s aides striking the elderly man and ordering him to prostrate before the ruler.
The embattled monarch, reportedly a retired police officer, was heard boasting about his connections within law enforcement and threatening to have Areola jailed.
Following the monarch’s suspension, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Ogun State commended the state government for acting swiftly.
In a statement, the group’s chairman, Comrade Solomon Bankole, described the assault as “barbaric” and called for full prosecution.
“The government has done the right thing by suspending him. However, this matter must not end there. Justice must be served to ensure such acts of oppression do not continue,” Bankole said.
Similarly, the state’s Police Community Relations Committee lauded the authorities for their prompt response.
The group also urged the police to arrest the individual who physically assaulted the victim.
PCRC Chairman, Samson Kunle Popoola, reassured Ogun residents of the committee’s commitment to protecting fundamental human rights.
“This is a clear message that no one is above the law. The police should ensure that all those involved in this act are brought to book,” he said.
