Ondo monarch’s wife arraigned for street brawl, breach of peace

FOR allegedly engaging in a public brawl capable of causing breach of communal peace and bringing disrepute to the traditional institution, the wife of the Olusupare of Supare-Akoko in Akoko South West Council of Ondo State,  Mrs. Sefiat Adedeji, was yesterday arraigned before a Magistrate Court.

The woman, whose husband, Oba Kasali Adejoro Adedeji is a foremost traditional ruler in the state, was accused of publicly fighting with another woman, Mrs Comfort Awogbamila on May 4, this year.

The charge sheet obtained at the Supare Chief Magistrate Court stated that “you Comfort Awogbami and Olori Sefifat Adedeji that on May 4, 2012 at about 8 p.m. at Supare Magisterial district unlawfully involved yourself in fighting in a public at Ugbe quarters Supare Akoko and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 83 of the Criminal Code cap 37 Vol ii, laws of Ondo State”

The monarch’s wife and his co-accused were also charged with conduct likely to cause breach of peace contrary and punishable under Section 249(d) of the criminal code cap 37 vol 11 laws of the state.

When the case was mentioned yesterday, the Police Prosecutor, Mr. Steven Dickson said he had four witnesses that would testify against the accused and that he was ready to go on with the case.

But counsel to the monarch’s wife, Mr. Bayo Olorunmeke, however, said he had not been served with the charges preferred against the Olori and that he would need some days to study them.

Similarly, the counsel to the co-accused, Mr. Duro Adonis said the case was new to him and that he would need time to study it and organise his witnesses.

Adonis, however, petitioned the police over the suit, saying the case should have been attempted rape against the monarch of the town and not affray and conduct likely to cause breach of peace before the court.

The petition stated that “on 4th of May, 2012 at about 7:30 pm to 8pm at Ugbe street, Supare-Akoko, a place rented by the Kabiyesi for his wife-Olori Adedeji, the Kabiyesi invited our client for clarification of an allegation of illicit affairs between our client’s husband and the Olori.

It continued: “In a twist of an event, the Kabiyesi excused all other people in the house except our client whom he took to a private room and forcibly attempted to rape her; in the struggle, our client escaped the assault but had her dresses torn.

“Our client was taken to the state General Hospital , Iwaro-Oka for medical attention and the matter was reported at the Police Station Supare-Akoko for investigation. To our client’s consternation, her matter was left unattended to and no investigation was carried out. On the whole our client and the Olori were charged to court for affray.”

The counsel asked the police to investigate the case properly and make sure that the culprits were charged to court for the appropriate offence and the Presiding Magistrate, Olubunmi Olujuyigbe, fixed June 7 for hearing.