Unknown People Threaten to Kill Magistrate Hearing Oluwo’s Case, Ask him to Hands off

By Segun Ojo

• Osun magistrates to embark on strike

Magistrate Olusola Aluko who is hearing a suit filed against the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Akanbi by the Oluwo of Iwo Oke, Oba Kadiri Adeoye has been threatened with death by unknown assailants.

Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo

The assailants also threatened to kill Magistrate Aluko’s family if he continues the contempt proceeding against Oba AKanbi.

The assailants made the threat in a leaflet attached to a petition sent to the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo by the Chief Registrar, Mr Lawrence O. Arojo, a copy of which was obtained by CityMirrorNews on Thursday.

Marked Annex A, the leaflet reads: “For the attention of Chief Judge and Other Judges in Osun State: Life is sacred, life is precious and is priceless. Please warn magistrate Aluko to stop contempt proceedings against Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi (the Oluwo of Iwo) and to hands off completely from the case for his life, family and the judiciary as a whole. The guy is too young to die. We love him. Thanks.”

The petition reads in part: “Permit us to state that men suspected to be thugs and hoodlums acting on behalf of the Oluwo had made several unsuccessful attempts to attack the court and to disrupt proceedings. The activities of these thugs, have on several occasion caused a breach of peace within the High Court Premises.

“In the light of the forgoing, we have every reason to come to the conclusion that Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo, and his men are behind the letter threatening the life of the magistrate.

“We are again of the firm believe that nobody, no matter his status in the society, is above the law. We therefore call on your honour sir to set the machinery of the law in motion to arrest the offender (s) and bring them to book.”

Besides, the Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Osun State branch, has threatened to embark on strike if the Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeoye Fimihan in the state refused to arrest Oluwo, just as they demanded for an order from the judiciary compelling the CP to arrest the traditional ruler.

The letter was signed by the chairman of the Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria, Osun State branch, Ms. F.A Sodamade; secretary, Mr. F.I. Omisade; Mrs. A.O. Oyeniyi; Mr. J.O. Owolawi; Mr. A.O Ayilara and Mrs. A.O Ajanaku.

Dated January 4, 2017, the letter reads: “We therefore humbly seek Your Lordship’s attention, protection and response in the following ways: An urgent directive to the Commissioner of Police to arrest and present for prosecution the Oluwo of Iwo.

“An urgent order directing the commissioner of police to provide each magistrate with armed personal orderlies as done in other jurisdiction.

“ We humbly state that with the prevalent threat to the security of magistrates as exemplified in the events in Iwo and Osogbo, we consider our lives unsafe and may be unable to continue sitting in our various stations, which may affect us entertaining any new charge from the office of the Commissioner of Police until the commissioner of police has complied with Your Lordship’s directives.”

It would be recalled that Magistrate Olusola Aluko had given the last order to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeoye Fimihan to produce the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, in court on Friday January 6, 2017.

When the case came up on Friday, December 30, and Oluwo was not presented in court, the magistrate was very furious.

The obviously angry magistrate then said, “I am baffled that the CP is claiming ignorance of the court order. It must be a joke of the century. I am not joking with my order. My order remains my order.”

After the last order, the Oluwo vowed never to appear before any court, saying that the order was an abuse on the traditional institution, threatening to issue ‘traditional arrest warrant” against magistrate Aluko.