THE traditional ruler of Iwerekun Elemoro land in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Oba Tajudeen Elemoro, has refuted the allegation made against him by two neighbouring communities that he used policemen and thugs to harass their indigenes.

The Oba through his counsel,Mr Taofik Elias denied all the allegation in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos.

The two communities, Otunla village and Oko-Olomi had alleged that the monarch instigated the arrest and detention of six indigenes of both villages on a trump-up armed robbery charge.

Counsel to the two villages, Micheal Bayowa and Bamidele Ogundele respectively had claimed that they were arrested on December 23, 2014 within the premises of the Ikeja High Court.

The lawyers alleged that the arrest of the six was to frustrate the ongoing matter filed by the communities against the monarch pending before Justices Kazeem Alogba and Atinuke Ipaye both of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja. ‎

According to them, the indigenes, Kufuli Batunde, Segun Eleku, Akorede Eleku, Lawal Dada, Luqman Adeniyi and Tajudeen Eleku, were later charged to court by the police.

They were arraigned on two count charge on December 24, 2014‎ before Magistrate court sitting in Ikeja presided over by Abimbola Komolafe. Magistrate Komolafe therefore granted them bail and adjourned further proceeding in the matter.

However, Elias told newsmen that the allegation against his client was baseless because the persons arrested were involved in the November 24, 2014 attack on the Elemoro Palace.

Elias said the suspects were attempting to gain entrance into the monarch’s house but were thwarted by arrival of policemen from the nearby Elemoro Police Station.

He said after the incident, the monarch was taken to the General Hospital, Epe for treatment for shock and insomnia. “The police were invited and the Oba told them that he can identify the attackers and that they were from Oko-Olomi and Otunla villages. Furthermore the suspects were arrested outside the gate of the Ikeja High Court. There was no arrest made within the premises of the court,” Elias said.

According to him, after their arraignment on December 24, 2014, they were unable to perfect their bail conditions and were taken to prison. The lawyer said he was reliably informed that the police were planning to withdraw the charge against the suspects.

Elias said he had therefore petitioned the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye, to take over their prosecution.

He said: “This case is not about the civil suits because the judges have already asked parties to maintain the status quo with regards to the issues before the court. This case is about an attempt on the life of the monarch and we want to pursue it to ensure that justice is done.”

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