The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State has filed charges against Oladokun Kelani, 70, and Moroof Agboola, 58, alongside others at large, at the Ibadan Magistrates District Court.
The charges include conspiracy to commit an offence, defamation of character, and conduct likely to threaten violence, contrary to Section 517 of the Oyo State Criminal Code.
Specifically, the defendants are accused of unlawfully removing Chief Wale Oladoja as Mogaji of Akinsola and forcefully imposing Moroof Agboola as the new Mogaji, despite a restraining order from the Oyo State High Court.
This action contravenes Section 249(d) of the Oyo State Criminal Code.
Oladokun Kelani and others allegedly mobilized a group of people to publicly defame Mogaji Olawale Oladoja, labelling him a thief and land grabber.
This offence is punishable under the Oyo State Criminal Code. Furthermore, the defendants are accused of threatening to kill Mogaji Olawale Oladoja and molesting him and his family members, using hoodlums, which falls under Section 86 of the Oyo State Criminal Code.
The charges were filed at the Ibadan Magisterial District Court, with Charge No. 12451/2024. The case is ongoing.
According to Mogaji Olawale Ladoja, said that his earlier dethronement was due to a purported letter he wrote to the Olubadan of Ibadan, advising to honor Governor Makinde for his good governance, which he swiftly debunked as a political maneuver.
Notably, Oladokun Kelani’s ancestry traces back to Mohammed, a Hausa trader from Maiduguri, who was once a slave to the Akinsola family, indicating that Oladokun Kelani and Morufu Agboola are not sons of the Akinsola ruling house and unrelated to the kingmaker in the compound.
Mogaji Olawale Oladoja he stated that Olawale in a have been embroiled in dispute following his unlawful removal from office.
“The reason cited for my dethronement was a purported letter I wrote to the Olubadan of Ibadan, advising against Governor Makinde’s governance.
“However, I swiftly issued a rejoinder to debunk the claim, labelling it a political manoeuvre.
“At the heart of the issue lies the legitimacy of my successors. Oladokun Kelani and Morufu Agboola, popularly known as Agbon, have been enthroned as the new Mogaji Akinsola despite not being sons or daughters of the Akinsola ruling house. In fact, investigations reveal that Oladokun Kelani’s ancestry traces back to Mohammed, a Hausa trader from Maiduguri, who was once a slave to the Akinsola family.
“The Akinsola family has taken legal action against Oladokun Kelani and his associates, seeking redress for the unauthorized sale of family lands and defamation of their name.
“Despite a high court’s ruling that no one should be removed or enthroned as Mogaji until the case is heard, Oladokun Kelani proceeded with the enthronement of Morufu Agboola contravening the court’s directive.
“The magistrate court has since sanctioned Oladokun Kelani for disregarding its ruling. The controversy surrounding my dethronement and the subsequent events underscores the complexities of traditional politics and the importance of adhering to legal and cultural norms.
Meanwhile, reacting to the ruling of the magistrate court yesterday, the Akinsola’s family has appealed to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His imperial majesty, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin to reconsider the plea of the family in the reinstatement of Mogaji Olawale Oladoja back to his position.
The family, through their spokesperson, Dr Akinsola urged the monarch to review the case and use his fatherly position to find a lasting solution to it.
“We, the Akinsola family of Opo labiran, Ibadan hereby appeal to Olubadan Advisory council and His imperial majesty Oba Olakuleyin to please temper justice with mercy and accede to our request of reinstatement of Mogaji Olawale Oladoja as our Mogaji.
“We don’t have any other name to present to Olubadan except our son Mogaji Olawale Oladoja, who has been a source of joy and happiness to our compound and he is the only one we can beat our chest for that he has been representing and leading us and his doing it so well,” he concluded.