Onovo: Police‘ll Charge Deji of Akure with Assault

by Sufuyan Ojeifo in Abuja,

The travails of the Deji of Akure, Oba Oluwadare Adeshina, who is under threat of deposition, are far from being over as plans are afoot by the police to charge him to court with assault.
Adeshina has been in the eye of the storm for reportedly assaulting his estranged wife, Olori Bolanle, in public in Akure, the Ondo State capital. Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Police Affairs yesterday, said investigations by the police had confirmed that Adeshina physically assaulted his estranged wife.
According to Onovo, “Even though, it is said to be a husband and wife case, but the law cannot wait to allow a woman to be killed because she is a housewife. So we are taking him to court.

“Police investigations reveal that the Deji assaulted her and that she was beaten by the suspect and white substance poured on her by the Deji himself causing her severe bodily injuries.
“The attack was premeditated and he came to the victim’s house for a specific purpose and a mob gathered at the scene to protect the actions of the suspects.
“In view of the seriousness of the allegations and the need to preserve law and order, bearing in mind that no one is above the law, and considering the weighty evidence against the suspects, I have directed that they be charged to court for the assault occasioning harm, conspiracy and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.”
In his remarks, Chair of the Senate Committee on police Affairs, Senator Gbenga Ogunniya, said the committee invited the IGP because it was concerned about public peace and order.

Ogunniya said the committee would want the police to expedite the trial of the monarch, suggesting that they could place him in confinement if it became necessary.
The committee reinforced the position of one of its members, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, that the police should ensure that the movement of the Deji of Akure was restricted in order to forestall a repeat of his action.
According to him, “such a man descending so low to engage in a street fight should be kept under surveillance so that he does not go and harm any witnesses who has already given statements.
“The best thing to do is to assemble your (police) lawyers so that the man could be taken to court immediately.
“By the time we come back from recess, we want to hear that this man has been arraigned and kept behind bars, so as to serve as a lesson to other people who like treating women bad.”
Meanwhile, the Federation of International Women Lawyers has petitioned the Senate over the incident. The president of the organisation, Mrs. Ezinwa Okoroafor, who appeared before the committee, said “the action of the Oba is a breach of the criminal code.”

She said action must be taken against the Deji of Akure because “as custodian of the tradition of the people, his action has put the women in Akure at risk because if such a matter comes before him, he is not going to be fair to women.”
The body, according to her, “wishes to express its concern and horror at this state of event and condemns same in the strongest terms.”
She declared that the action of the monarch, as reported in the media, was illegal and barbaric, adding that “it is quite unbecoming of a person of his stature.”


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