A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Isabo Abeokuta has sentenced five Egba Chiefs to six months imprisonment for maliciously damaging the seal letter and removing the caution tape placed on Ogboni Igbore house by the authorities of Abeokuta South Local Government.
The Five Igbore Chiefs, 55 year old Anthony Ogunseye, 67 year old Ajasa Enisemo, 50 year old Saheed Sanusi, 60 year old Oludotun Oliyide, and 63 year old Fatai Mutairu, were on Wednesday sentenced to six months imprisonment each on a four-count-charge of conspiracy, malicious damage,Conduct likely to cause breach of peace and stealing.
Delivering the judgment, the presiding Magistrate, Mrs E.O Ogunyemi who said the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the convicts were guilty as charged and the evidence presented by the prosecutor was tenable announced the sentence with an option of 50,000 naira fine each.
The prosecutor, Inspector Olaide Rawlings had told the court that the five defendants committed the offence on March 21, 2023 at about 12:15pm at the Ogboni House in Igbore area by conspiring among themselves to maliciously damaged the seal letter of Abeokuta South local government that was pasted on the walls, doors and window of the Ogboni House.
The Prosecutor maintained that the Ogboni house was sealed by the local government for security reasons following the crisis which erupted over a chieftain title in the Ogboni house, adding that the Chiefs conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by deliberately removing the caution tape placed on the Ogboni house.
They were also accused of stealing two billboards that were fixed on the doors of the Ogboni Igbore house by the local government in contravention of the relevant sections of the criminal code laws of the state.
