'Acclaimed' Ogun monarch sentenced to six months imprisonment

The well-known Oba Mufutau Dosunmu was given a six-month prison sentence by a Chief Magistrate Court in Isabo, Abeokuta, for pretending to be the Osolo of Ado-Odo in the Ado-Odo/Ota local government of Ogun State.

The defendant was found guilty on several counts of impersonation and disturbing the peace in the Ado-Odo Magisterial district.

He was charged with breaking Section 23(2)(c) of the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State by presenting himself as an Oba and wearing regalia and a beaded crown while not having the proper title.

In addition, Dosunmu was charged under Section 249(1)(d) of the Criminal Code Law, Laws of Ogun State, 2006, for his alleged actions between January and April 2022, which were likely to cause a breach of peace.

In violation of Section 249(1)(d) of the Criminal Code Law, the convicted individual was alleged to have installed Alabi Afizu as Baba Loja of Ado at the Oba Agaloye Market in Ado-Odo in March 2022.

In addition, between April 2022 and August 2022, Dosunmu was accused of giving the town crier instructions to announce movement restrictions because of spiritual rites. This led to charges under Section 249(1)(d) and 200 of the Criminal Code Law.

According to a second count, between April 2022 and July 2023, Dosunmu paraded himself as the kingmaker Osolo of Ado-Odo and identified himself as the Olofin of Ado-Odo.

Adebayo Adesanya, the prosecution's attorney, told the court that his actions were illegal under Sections 249(1)(d) and 249(3) of the Criminal Code Law.

In addition, Dosunmu was accused of parading himself as a kingmaker without the Traditional Council's consent, which is against Section 41 of Ogun State's Chief's Law of 2021 and is punishable by Section 41(6) of the Obas and Chiefs Law.

In delivering the judgment, Chief Magistrate E.O. Idowu declared that Dosunmu was found guilty of six counts and sentenced him to six months imprisonment.

Idowu declared, “The convict is sentenced to one month imprisonment on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th counts of the charge, with the option of a fine of N50,000 on each count for which he has been convicted.

The sentences shall run consecutively from today, November 28, 2023.”

Source