Oluwo Drums War Against Judiciary, Threatens to Arrest Magistrate

By Abdulrofiu Ayobami

The Judiciary which represents the modern day of curbing and dealing with crime is now in serious trouble in Osun state as tradition sets to wage war against judiciary, the two claiming supremacy over each other,

The drama has been playing between Olusola Aluko of an Osogbol Magistrate Court 11, and the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Abdul- Rasheed Akanbi, Telu I, with the two, threatening to arrest each other.

Magistrate Aluko, had penultimate week, threatened that he would order a force arrest of the monarch if he fails to appear before it to answer allegations against him by another monarch in the state.

Though, Magistrate Aluko made good his threat on Tuesday when he finally ordered security agents to produce Oba Akanbi in court by force to answer criminal charges against him.

However, drama played out on Thursday when Oba Akanbi threatened to issue a “traditional warrant arrest” against Chief Magistrate Olusola Aluko.

The monarch, who denied the knowledge of bench warrant of arrest against him, said he came to hear of it on the pages of newspapers.

Speaking with reporters in Osogbo, he cautioned anyone against attempt to denigrate traditional institution, saying as a king “I too have traditional warrant arrest I can invoke against the magistrate.”

It would be recalled that Oluwo-Oke of Iwo-Oke, Oba Kadiri Oba Adeoye had approached the Magistrate Court, accusing Oba Akanbi, of concealing some facts about his past to the state government when he was installed as a first class monarch about a year ago.

The Oluwo described the court order as an insult against his throne, saying it was obvious that the judge was out to intimidate and harass him for “reasons best known to him and his sponsors.”

The Oluwo, who insisted that he had no case to answer before the Magistrate Court, however said he had great respect for the judiciary and the law, adding that he would be ready to answer any serious charge preferred against him in any law court.

Saying that the court had no jurisdiction over the case, Oba Akanbi accused Magistrate Aluko of “playing the tune dictated by a piper.”

He said: “Because somebody or some people somewhere do not like my guts they are making use of an available tool to do their bidding. But I don’t care and I want them to know I can not be intimidated and harassed by anybody. I got so many jobs to do for my people and I would not tolerate any distraction.

“They are certainly envious of my selfless service to the people of Iwo and its environs but that is their headheache, not mine.. They are desperate, using the idle hands and those without integrity to carry out their diabolical plans. Allah is the greatest and all of us are mere mortals.

“I don’t have any skeleton in my cupboard the detractors just want to drag the name of the Oluwo of Iwoland in the mud. I don’t even involve myself in land matters or sale of lands.  I don’t even have a private house other than the palace. My utmost priority is the well being of my people.

“I have spent my personal money to rehabilitate disused courts in Iwoland. I toil day and night for progress of my town. The magistrate and the Oba in question are being paid and sponsored by detractors and this is the price I’m paying for success and great fame.”

Oba Akanbi tasked traditional rulers not to sit back and see the insult on Oluwo as his only predicament but to speak up against it because of its implication on the traditional institution.

He thanked the administrations of President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Rauf Aregbesola for providing an environment peace and justice, adding that if not for good government at both state and federal bad element within the judiciary would have continued to flourish.