Monarch in Court Over N75m Land Scam, Assault on Police Officer
The Olu of Obafemi, Oba Taofeek Olukayode, has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Owode-Egba for allegedly defrauding Michael Adeyemi of N75 million and assaulting a police officer.
According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Fatai Moronkole, Oba Olukayode collected N75 million from Adeyemi with the promise of selling 500 acres of land but failed to fulfill the agreement. The monarch also allegedly assaulted a police officer and damaged his eyeglasses when questioned about the matter.
Community leaders have accused Oba Olukayode of forcibly taking over 500 hectares of their land, clearing cash crops and damaging the only source of water and road to the public school.
Oba Olukayode faces a four-count charge bordering on felony, fraudulent conversion, and assault.
The charges read to him included: “That you, Oba Taofeek Owolabi Olukayode (M) and others still at large, between 18/09/2023 and 20/08/2024 at Obafemi town, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, in the Obafemi-Owode Magisterial District, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of seventy-five million naira only (N75,000,000.00k) from one Dr Michael Adeyemi under the false pretence of selling 500 acres of land to him, knowing this to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Law, Laws of Ogun State, 2006.
“That you, Oba Taofeek Owolabi Olukayode (M) and others still at large, between 18/09/2023 and 20/08/2024 at Obafemi town, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, in the Obafemi-Owode Magisterial District, fraudulently took and converted the sum of seventy-five million naira only (N75,000,000.00k) to your use, which is the property of one Dr Michael Adeyemi, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Law, Laws of Ogun State, 2006.
“That you, Oba Taofeek Owolabi Olukayode (M) and others still at large, on or about 21 October 2024, at about 08:30 am, at Obafemi town, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, in the Obafemi-Owode Magisterial District, with intent to resist and prevent arrest, unlawfully assaulted one ASP Oriade David while he was carrying out his lawful duty, wherein his recommended lens, valued at Eight Thousand Five Hundred Naira Only (N8,500.00k), was damaged, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 356 of the Criminal Code Law, Laws of Ogun State, 2006.”
The monarch, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail of N10 million with two sureties in like sum before the case was adjourned to November 25, 2024, for hearing.
