From MUSLIUDEEN ADEBAYO, Ibadan
A human rights group, Save The Poor and Needy Charity Initiative (SPANCI) has advised Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State not to present Staff of Office to Deacon Samuel Oladejo Olakunle, as the Alamura of Amura land in Orire Local Government of the state.
The group made this appeal via a petition signed by its President, Comrade Yemi Ezekiel Bello and addressed to the governor.
The petition was made available to journalists recently in Ibadan, the state capital.
Our correspondent gathered that the state government had concluded plans to present Staff of Office to Olakunle as Alamura of Amura on Friday 2nd of February 2024.
But, Bello in the petition alleged that Olakunle is standing a criminal trial in suit No: MI/1047C/2023 at a Magistrate Court in Ibadan.
He added that Oyo State government has prosecuted and arraigned Olakunle in the Magistrate Court in Ibadan after he refused to appear for interrogation and investigation on some criminal allegations bodering on land grabbing, sponsoring hooligans and thugs.
Bello, speaking further, maintained that the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters is aware that Olakunle has pending criminal cases against him in the court and pending petition before the ministry.
He therefore urged the governor not to present the Staff of Office to him.
“Urgent petition against an act of unlawful upcoming presentation of Staff of Office as traditional ruler to Deacon Olakunle Oladejo Samuel as the Alamura of Amura land, Orire Local Government, Ikoyi Ile Oyo State, an act that can lead to perversion, prevention, obstruction and defeat of cause of justice in suit number: MI/1047C/2023.
“We have been reliably informed and have also confirmed from our clients, Pa Thomas Ademola Bamigbala and Chief Adeoye Akinpelu, the Onilodo of Ilodo and instructed by them to write this letter so that their rights might be protected.
“Our client said the Ministry for Local Government already knows that Deacon Oladejo has pending criminal cases against him in the court and pending petition before the ministry and also referred to them from the state’s Real Property Protection and Anti Land Grabbing Task Force bodering on the real Alamura of Amura title between him and Pa Moses Ajani.
“We believe that the administration of his Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde is a very noble and justice serving administration and will never be involved in illegality. And also the office of the Honorable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters should not be involved in any act that can lead to perversion, prevention, obstruction and defeat of cause of justice as the Honorable Commissioner is a law abiding and God fearing personality per excellence.
“We also know that it is wrong for the state government to prosecute someone and also select him for coronation or presentation of Staff of Office to the same person standing criminal trial in court of law as this will be a bad precedent.
“We therefore humbly refer the state through the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters to the state’s taskforce on Real Property Protection and Anti- land Grabbing for verification of our claim since his case file is with them.
“We also humbly request
for immediate removal of Deacon Olakunle Oladejo Samuel, the self acclaimed Alamura of Amura from those who will be presented with the Staff of Office on Friday 2nd of February 2024 just two days more in the interest of justice and not politics.
