MICHAEL AKINOLA
Five Ogboni Chiefs in Ogun State, namely Anthony Ogunseye (55), Ajasa Enisemo (67), Saheed Sanusi (50), Oludotun Oliyide (60), Fatai Mutairu (63), have been sentenced to six months imprisonment for tempering with Local Government documents.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was the judgment of the Abeokuta Magistrate Court sitting at Isàbo, which found them guilty and sentenced them accordingly.
The Ogboni Chiefs were convicted on a four-count-charge of conspiracy, malicious damage, conduct likely to cause breach of peace and stealing under the Criminal Laws of the State.
The prosecutor, Inspector Olaide Rawlings, told the court that the convicts committed the offences on 21st March , 2023, at about 12:15p.m. at the Ogboni House in Igbore area the State.
She explained that the chiefs conspired to maliciously destroy letters from the Abeokuta South Local Government that were pasted on the walls, doors and windows of the Ogboni House.
According to her, the Ogboni House was sealed by the Local Government for security reasons following a dispute over the filling of a vacant chieftancy title in the Ogboni House.
She said that the five Ogboni members conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by also unlawfully removing the caution tape placed on the Ogboni house.
“They also stole two crossed bars that were fixed on the two doors of the Ogboni Igbore house by the Local Government,” she said.
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Section 451, 516, 249(d) and 383 of the Criminal Code Vol II Laws of Ogun 2006.
The Ogboni Chiefs had earlier pleaded not guilty hence the trial.
Delivering judgment, the Magistrate, Mrs. E.O. Ogunyemi, said that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt that the convicts were guilty as charged.
Ogunyemi also held that the evidence presented by the prosecution was tenable, and therefore, sentenced each of the chiefs to six month imprisonment with an option of N50, 000 fine.