MICHAEL AKINOLA
It was double jeopardy for Prince Adepoju Kazeem Olalekan of Ekosin town in Osogbo, Osun State, who allegedly bribed three kingmakers with N2.2m to make him king as he was swindled and equally lost the crown.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that in anger, Prince Olalekan asked the kingmakers to refund the money, which they had already shared. They were unable to do so and he handed them over to the Police for fraud.
The Kingmakers Adepoju Aderemi, Muritala Adeleke, Najeem Ayoku and Egbebi Kolawole were arraigned before the Oshogbo Magistrates Court on four counts of perjury, fraud, and breach of peace by the Police.
The prosecutor, Mr. Saheed Anifowose, disclosed on the charge sheet that, “Chief Adepoju Aderemi, Chief Muritala Adeleke, Chief Najeem Ayoku, Egbebi Kolawole and others now at large between the 13th to 17th November, 2022 at Ekosin Town in the Osogbo Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit felony to wit perjury, obtaining money under false pretence and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
“They did with intent to defraud, obtain the sum of N2,200,000 from one Adepoju Kazeem Olalekan under the false pretence of installing him as a king, which you know to be false thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.”
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned.
Their Defence Counsel, Yemi Abiona, applied for their bail in the most liberal term because it was a bailable offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Dr. Olusegun Ayilara, denied them bail and ordered that they should be remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre and the matter should be transferred to Okuku Magistrate’s Court for fresh arraignment over jurisdiction.