A chief magistrate in Isabo, Abeokuta, has sentenced Muhtau Dosunmu, an Osoro of Ado-Odo, to six months in prison for impersonating an Oba.
The title of Osoro was upgraded to Oba coronation by the previous administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, one of the high ranking chiefs of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.
However, since the inauguration of the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun, the upgrading of all 75 Oba has been withdrawn.
The monarchs claimed that they had secured a high court ruling against the state, but the government insisted that they should stop parading themselves as traditional rulers.
Mukhtau Dosunmu was charged with multiple counts of impersonation and disturbing the peace in the Ado-Odo administrative district.
He was accused of violating Section 23(2)(c) of the Ogun State Oba and Chiefs Act by wearing regalia and a beaded crown and parading as an Oba, despite having no legitimate title.
The charges also extend to Dosunmu’s actions between January and April 2022, when he was alleged to have acted in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace and was charged with Section 249(1)(iv) of the Criminal Code of Ogun State Law 2006.
Inmate Dosunmu allegedly installed one Alabi Afiz as Baba Roja of Ado at the Oba Agaroe Market in Ado Odo in March 2022, in violation of Article 249, Section 1(d) of the Criminal Code.
Dosunmu was further charged with instructing the town’s messenger to announce the restriction of movement due to spiritual rites between April 2022 and August 2022, in violation of Article 249, Section 1, paragraph d and 200 of the Penal Code.
In a separate count, defendant Dosunmu is alleged to have paraded himself as Orofin of Ado Odo, Kingmaker, between April 2022 and July 2023.
Prosecution counsel Adebayo Adesanya told the court that his conduct is punishable under Sections 249(1)(d) and 249(3) of the Penal Code.
Dosunmu is also charged with parading as a kingmaker without the approval of the Traditional Council, which is a violation of Article 41 of the Ogun State Chiefs Act of 2021, punishable under Article 41.6 of the Oba and Chiefs Act.
Chief Judge E.O. Idowu, in his ruling, declared that Dosunmu was found guilty on six counts and sentenced to six months imprisonment.
Judge Idowu stated, “The accused is sentenced to one month imprisonment on counts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, with an optional fine of 50,000 naira for each count for which he was convicted.
The sentences shall be consecutive from today, November 28, 2023.”
