Man Accused Of Attacking Village Head With Sticks, Cutlasses Over Disputed Ataoja’s Land Remanded

The Osun State Police Command has arraigned a 36-year-old man named Taofeek Salami for allegedly leading an attack against his village head with clubs and cutlasses over a disputed land matter.

Salami was arraigned at a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State for allegedly assaulting Chief Sikiru Adewale, the Baale of Irepodun Oke Osun village in the state.

The defendant was also accused of trespassing into a land allegedly belonging to the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, and flouting a court order barring him from encroaching into the disputed property.

The charge brought against him read that “Taofeek Salami and others now at large on July 29, and August 16, 2022, at Irepodun area, Oke-Osun, Osogbo, did conspire among yourselves to commit offences to wit assault and contempt of court contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

“You, Taofeek Salami, and others now at large, on the same date, time and place, did arm yourselves with cutlasses and sticks and thereby assaulted one Chief Sikiru Adewale, Baale of Irepodun Oke Osun village and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 252 and punishable under Section 351 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

“You did commit an act of intentional disrespect to the judgment of Honorable Justice A. O. Oyebiyi of State High Court, Osogbo by failing to obey the order of the said court restraining you from further entering into the piece of land at Irepodun Oke Osun area, Osogbo and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 133 (9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

“You, Taofeek Salami, and others now at large, within the same period and place, did forcibly enter into a piece of land at Irepodun Oke-Osun area, Osogbo, a land which is in the peaceful possession of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, and his privy, Chief Sikiru Adewale, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 81 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.”

Salami entered into a not guilty plea to the charges.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Elisha Olusegun, informed the court that the chief was hospitalized after the alleged attack.

Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara ordered that the defendant should be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till September 5 for ruling on the formal bail application.