The suspended traditional ruler of Orile Ifo, Oba Abdulsemiu Ogunjobi, has been remanded at the Ilaro Correctional Centre in Ogun State after failing to meet the bail conditions set by the court. This was confirmed by Yinka Odukoya, the spokesperson for the correctional facility, in a statement to this newspaper on Wednesday.
Odukoya stated, “Yes, he is in our custody, which means he has been unable to meet the bail conditions granted by the court yesterday. However, as soon as he does, he will be released.”
The Ogun State Police Command had arraigned the suspended monarch on Tuesday over a viral video showing him assaulting a 73-year-old man, Abraham Areola. The charges, filed under case number MH2b8c/2025, include conspiracy, assault, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.
According to the charge sheet, Oba Ogunjobi and others at large were accused of conspiring to commit assault and engaging in behavior likely to disrupt public peace on January 21, 2025, at Sojuolu Street, Ifo Magisterial District. The charges further allege that the monarch unlawfully slapped Areola on the face and ear and forced him to kneel in public, actions deemed contrary to Sections 517, 351, and 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.
The accused, who appeared before Magistrate F. A. Iroko, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court granted him bail with two sureties, each required to provide N5 million and reside within the court’s jurisdiction. The case has been adjourned to March 6 for further hearing.
The incident, captured in a two-minute video, sparked widespread outrage. In the footage, Ogunjobi, a retired police officer, is seen berating Areola with curses and accusing him of conspiring against his family. The monarch also boasted about his connections within law enforcement and threatened to have Areola jailed. At one point, an aide of Ogunjobi struck the elderly man and ordered him to prostrate before the monarch.
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Ogun State has praised the state government for suspending the monarch and called for his full prosecution. In a statement signed by its chairman, Comrade Solomon Bankole, the group condemned the assault and urged authorities to ensure justice is served.
Similarly, the Ogun State Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) commended the government and police for their swift action. The PCRC Chairman, Samson Kunle Popoola, assured the public of the committee’s commitment to protecting the fundamental human rights of residents and called for the arrest of the individual who slapped the victim.
The case continues to draw public attention as the community awaits further developments.
