Traditional ruler in Oyo State confirms his incarceration over alleged murder, land-grabbing

Oba Solomon Akinola, the Oloko of Oko in Oyo State on Wednesday confirmed a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he spent time at the Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo town.

He told an Oyo State High Court sitting at Ogbomoso that contrary to the rebuttal of the NAN story, the court actually incarcerated him at the Abolongo correctional centre on Nov. 21 over alleged murder and land-grabbing.

Akinola made the confession before Justice K.A. Adedokun, who had earlier frowned at the traditional ruler’s claims that he was let off the hook after an arrangement with the judge.

“Your Honour remanded me at the Abolongo correctional centre on Nov. 21.

“I did not send anybody to tell Nigerians that I manipulated my way through an arrangement with the judge,’’ Oba Akinola said.

Justice Adedokun had complained that the court registrar told him about the boasts by the traditional ruler that he had manipulated his way through the court.

He charged that no one should soil his name and that of the judiciary as he had never taken bribe from anyone in the course of discharging his duties.

He warned the traditional ruler to rein in his subjects to stop peddling unfounded stories.

Oba Akinola had refuted NAN story in online media that the court remanded him in custody.

He claimed that contrary to NAN report about his incarceration, he was attending social functions and conducting the affairs of his community peacefully.

Akinola, alongside 14 other defendants, had been facing a 29-count charge of alleged attempted murder, assault, robbery, stealing and land grabbing.

After his apology, Justice Adedokun adjourned hearing in the matter to Thursday.