Olawale Oladoja dock for parading himself as Ibadan Mogaji

The deposed family head (Mogaji) of Akinsola family, Olawale Oladoja on Friday arraigned in court for parading himself as Mogaji of the family following his removal by the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun and the Olubadan-in-council.

Oladoja was arraigned before Magistrate O.O. Ogunkanmi of the Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan on three count charge bordering on unlawfully parading himself as Mogaji of Akinsola family, unlawfully granting false press conference that desecrated office of Olubadan and causing bridge of peace that desecrated exalted office of the Olubadan.

The charge, no Mi/696c/c/2024 reads: “That you OLAWALE OLADOIA ‘M’, on or about the 2nd day of March, 2024, at Oopo Labiran area, Ibadan, in the Ibadan Magisterial district did unlawfally parade yourself as the Mogaji of Akinsola family after you were removed by His imperial Majesty, the late Olubadan of Ibadanland late Oba Moshood Olalekan Balogun and Olubadan-in Council by wearing beads as symbol of your office
and thereby committed an offence Contrary to and punishable under Section 26(5)(o)(b) of the Chiefs law, Cap 28, Vol. I, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

COUNT II: That you OLAWALE OLADOJA ‘M, on the same date, time and
place in the aforementioned Magisterial district did unlawfully grant a false press
conference that desecrated the exalted office of the Olubadan of Ibadan land
conderning his action for conferring title on a notable Ibadan son which is capable of causing fear and alarm to the public and thereby committed an offence Contrary to and punishable under Section 59 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

COUNT III:- That you OLAWALE OLADOJA ‘M, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district did Conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of the pecce by granting a false press conference that desecrated the exalted office of the Olubadan of Ibadan land condemning his action for conferring title on a notable Ibadan son which is capable of causing fear and alarm to the public and thereby committed an offence Contrary to and punishable under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol, II, Laws of Oyo
State of Nigeria, 2000.

The suspect however pleaded not guilty of all the charges against him.

Ogunkanmi however granted Oladoja bail of N100,000 with one surety.

She therefore adjourned the case till 15th July 2024 for hearing.

Recall that Oladoja was suspended by late Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun over his alleged involvement in various abnormalities within Ibadan and it’s environs.

Olubadan also directed the Akinsola family to nominate another member of the family, who they found worthy of the position to replace Oladoja.

Desicion to suspend Oladoja was as a result of the fall-out of an emergency meeting of the Olubadan Advisory Council presided over by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lekan Balogun at his Alarere Palace and which had in attendance representatives of the Association of Mogajis of Ibadanland led by its President-General, Chief Asimiyu Adepoju Ariori and the Assistant Secretary-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Suleiman Iyanda Raufu, who stood in for Chief Barr. Niyi Ajewole, the President-General of the Council.

Olubadan the big axe fell on Oladoja on account of his recent media outbursts considered disrespectful to the Olubadan stool and by extension the traditional institution of Ibadanland.

The media reports credited to the deposed Mogaji, according to the Council were described as divisive, disparaging and insulting and unbecoming of a supposed leader, who is expected to be urbane and cautious in deeds and actions, stressing that the conduct of Oladoja since his short suspension about six months ago was not suggestive of any sense of remorse.

It would be recalled that the same Olubadan Advisory Council ordered the suspension of Oladoja over inhuman execution of supposed court judgment on a land matter and for which he threw out some residents of Akinsola village in Akinyele Local Government area of the state, a conduct then described as untoward and a breach of the peace.

At Saturday’s meeting, the Council recalled that the suspension placed on him then did not last long because of his perceived genuine remorse and principally, because of His Imperial Majesty’s peaceful disposition, adding, “the recent outbursts by the same person have shown him as somebody without no iota of respect for constituted authority and any failure to bring upon him the full weight of the Council’s power would amount to condoning of indiscipline”.

To drive home the point, the Akinsola Family which produced him in the first instance was subsequently asked to present another person to replace him as the Mogaji of the family if they are still interested in having a substantive Mogaji. The family are already working on their new candidate but he is not coronated, so where is the contempt of the court in the whole process ?

The deposed Mogaji was invited to the meeting but failed to show up on an excuse that his mother died about 24 hours to the meeting, an alibi that failed to convince the Council. Members, who spoke on his excuse described it as a gimmick to evade interrogation on the allegations against him and said they could not be swayed by such antics