Osun Magistrates Threaten Strike Over Oluwo of Iwo

Following the alleged failure of a monarch in Osun to appear for trial and subsequent actions to two bench warrants issued against him, magistrates in the state have threatened to embark on a strike if the Commissioner of Police fails to arrest the Oluwo of Iwo, Abdulrasheed Akanbi and present him in court.

The Presiding Magistrate, Olusola Aluko, had issued bench warrant on Oba Akanbi twice and also ordered the Commissioner of Police, Fimihan Adeoye, to arrest and produce the monarch in court during the last Friday proceeding.

They based their decision on the posture of the monarch and the refusal of Police Commissioner Fimihan Adeoye to arrest and make him available in court as ordered by the magistrate court in Osogbo.

The last order of the magistrate, Olusola Aluko, for the arrest of the monarch was given on December 30, 2016, after the monarch had turned down previous invitations by the court to appear in defence of various allegations of fraud and forgery levelled against him by another monarch, the Oluwo Oke of Iwo Oke.

over the matter had issued bench warrant on Oba Akanbi twice and also ordered Adeoye to arrest and produce the monarch in court during the last Friday proceeding.

Osun State branch of Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria yesterday in a letter to the Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo and the Chief Registrar, Mr. Lawrence O. Arojo said: “We wish to humbly draw your Lordship’s attention to the series of events that have been evolving recently in relation to our career and safety of our lives.

Signed by its chairman, Chief Magistrate F.A Sodamade and secretary, Magistrate F.I Omisade, the body explained that, the presiding magistrate was almost attacked by miscreants before she was rescued and escorted to Ogbaagba, a neighbouring community by the police and prison officials.

According to the letter, “At Chief Magistrate’s Court 2, Oshogbo, the 1st Respondent, Oluwo of Iwo refused to appear before the court on four consecutive occasions despite an order for him to appear. A bench warrant was therefore issued against him the fourth time the matter was heard.”

“We humbly state that with prevalent threat to the security of magistrates as exemplified in the events of Iwo and Oshogbo, we consider our lives unsafe and may be unable to continue sitting in our various stations, which may affect us entertaining any new charge from the office of the commissioner of police until the police commissioner of has complied with your Lordship’s directives,” the magistrates said.