Kwara ‘monarch’ goes to prison

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

A High Court sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, has sentenced one Chief Sunday Ayantola to one-year non-custodian imprisonment.

The court penalised Chief Ayantola for parading himself as king of Ayedun community, Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.

The state government in suit No: KWS/23C/2016 had dragged the defendant before the court following complaints from members of the community over Ayantola’s behaviour that is considered sacrilegious by his people.

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Ayantola was charged to court under section 16 (2) of the Kwara State Chieftaincy law and section 158 of the CPC.

In the judgement by the trial judge, Justice Taoheed Umar, Ayantola also ordered the defendant to sign an undertaking that he will ensure peace and orderliness in the community and will  report at a police station in  Ilorin every first Monday of the month,  for a one-year period.

Justice Umar added that Ayantola declared himself His Royal Majesty, Obaoye of Iwoye shortly after the paramount ruler of that community, Obajisun of Ayedun, Dr. Olusegun Rotimi installed him as his second-in-command.

The court further warned Ayantola to desist from causing division in the community, saying ‘Iwoye is not a different town from Ayedun.

“Evidence before me is that Ayedun kingdom is made up three wards which are Ikotun, Iwoye, and Odo-Ila, and Iwoye is just a ward or quarter in Ayedun under the Obajisun.

“I’m satisfied that the prosecution has proved the second count of given false evidence under section 158(1) of the penal code law beyond reasonable doubt. Rather than proceed to convict the defendant, I will utilise the provision of section 445 and 446 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

“I hereby order the defendant to enter into cognizance to be of good behaviour with two sureties. The defendant shall appear before O/C legal of state CID who is hereby appointed as the Probation Officer on 1st Monday of every month for a period of one year, pursuant to section 446(1) of Administration of Criminal Justice Law,” the judge said.