Ondo Monarch In Police Custody Over Alleged Armed Robbery

The traditional ruler of the Ayetoro Community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, was on Tuesday remanded in Police custody by an Akure Chief Magistrate Court over alleged armed robbery and arson.

The embattled monarch was also arrested by the police over conduct that was likely to cause a breach of peace in the coastal community.

According to the police prosecutor, Olatunji Kazeem, Ojagbohunmi and others at large armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons, conspired to rob five different people of their money. He was arraigned on nine counts.

The prosecutor had accused Ojagbohunmi of conspiracy to commit a felony with armed robbery and therefore committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under section 5(b) of the robbery and firearms (Special Provision) Act cap R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The defendant with others at large was accused of being armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons and robbed one Ajimijere Ayodele of Tiger Generator and a sum of N160,000.

Ojagbohunmi was also accused of shooting one Olu Obolo in the leg and matcheted him at the rear pelvic girdle and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 320 (1) of the criminal code cap 37 volume 1 Laws of the Ondo State 2006.

The charge reads “That you Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi ‘m’ and others at large between 7th October, 2018 till date at Ayetoro community within the Ondo State Magistrate District, did allow yourself to be installed as the Oba Ogeloyinbo having not been approved by the Executive Council of Ondo State and thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 15 (2) (a) (b) of the Chief Law of Ondo State, 2006.”

The prosecutor prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody pending the hearing of all the necessary bail application.

However, the counsel to the defendant, Olusola Oke told the court that he had had not been properly served with the charges as required by the law, saying he needed 24 hours under the administration of criminal justice to file the necessary application for the bail of the defendant.

In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mayomi Olanipekun, ordered the defendant to be remanded in police custody and fixed the hearing of the case for January 24,2019.