The Ogun State Government has placed Oba Abdulsemiu Adewale Ogunjobi, the Olorile of Orile-Ifo, on six months suspension, following a viral video in which he was seen manhandling a man.
The government said the decision to suspend Kabiyesi followed “his uncivil conduct not befitting the status of an Oba,” according to a statement from the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Communication and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, on Monday.
According to a government statement, the decision was reached after the Kabiyesi and his victim (73-year-old Areola Abraham) were invited by the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Local Govt and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, for interrogation.
Akinmade said, “This became imperative as a result of the reckless utterances and public misconduct of the Kabiyesi as it was evident in the social media and being bandied in the larger public space.
“After the investigation conducted on the matter, the Kabiyesi has been suspended and stripped of the paraphernalia of the stool of Olorile-Ifo pending the determination of his culpability or otherwise on the allegation.
“The foregoing decision was reached by the ministry in conjunction with the Egba Traditional Council in accordance with Section 52(1) of the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State 2021”.
Oba Ogunjobi was accused of allegedly going about with thugs to intimidate and harass members of the public while using his influence as a former police officer to perpetrate all forms of nefarious activities.
Abraham was reportedly beaten by Oba Ogunjobi and supporters.
As narrated by eyewitnesses: “The elderly man with an ailment, narrated his ordeal, stating that he was going to get food when the Olorile of Ifo saw and called him.
“He respectfully crossed to honour the call, only to be attacked by the Oba, who slapped him severally and ordered his squad to descend on him; all pleas by the old man meant nothing to the Oba, who is notorious for his thuggery and public assaults”.
The viral video and testimonies of the victim revealed that Ogunjobi assaulted Areola, slapped him severally.
In the footage, some men with Ogunjobi were seen slapping the elderly man and forcing him to kneel and prostrate.
