An Akure Chief Magistrate Court has remanded a self-acclaimed monarch, Adekolajo Aladeseyi for allegedly installing himself as the Olujare of Ijare in the state’s Ifedore Local Government Area.
Also remanded with him were two chiefs including Fasore Lawrence and Adegbenro Akanle.
They were remanded for also instigating crisis in the kingdom.
Aladeseyi and the others were arraigned for his illegal installation as the occupant of the vacant stool of Olujare of Ijare.
The charges preferred against the suspects by the Police Prosecutor, Babatunde Ajiboye accused them of conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and deliberately flouting the chief law of the state.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge preferred against them before the Magistrate Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Jaiyeola Solomon Ogungade.
The prosecutor said he had seven witnesses to present as witnesses.
He also had proof of evidence to be presented during the trial. But the lead counsel to the suspects, Mr Adelanke Akinrata asked the court to grant bail to them in liberal terms.
He said the application was premised on section 36 sub 5 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
According to him, the defendants are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty according to Section 146 sub 1 of Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL).
Akinrata said the essence of bail is to ensure the presence and guarantee of the accused to stand trial before the court.
He promised the court to ensure the availability of the suspects during trial.
Akinrata added that the accused would not tamper with the investigation which had long been concluded, saying they are responsible chiefs in the community who would not plunge the community into crisis.
However, a chief in the town, Chief Wemimo Olaniran said there would be a crisis in the town if the accused persons were granted bail by the court.
He said there was a detachment of police to maintain peace in the town over the obaship crisis.
Olaniran, a kingmaker in the town said his colleagues are living in fear of being attacked by hoodlums loyal to the self-styled monarch.
He said granting him bail would lead to impunity as other princes in the town would install themselves as monarchs of the community.
Chief Magistrate Ogungade however adjourned the ruling on the bail application to May 12.
He remanded the suspects in custody pending the determination of the application.
