•Proceedings continue today
February 23, was a day that will continue to linger in the memory of the Olukere of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin.
It was the day he breathed the air of freedom after almost two months’ incarceration. An Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s Court had ordered his detention for alleged murder.
The battle for his bail began on February 16 at High Court Five in Ado-Ekiti, but the ruling on his bail application was adjourned to February 23.
Odo Oja in Ikere-Ekiti, where his palace is located, has been a scene of endless protests by his supporters who allege that his incarceration was politically motivated.
Each day he appeared in court, his subjects and supporters had shown solidarity by thronging the State High Court Complex in Ado-Ekiti.
But the court session penultimate Friday was different as the crowd was absent, save for a few of his chiefs, members of his family and supporters.
They thought that the ruling on his bail application would be heard first on that day but two cases-one civil and the other criminal-were called before the ruling on the bail application was delivered.
The Olukere himself was not present in court as he was represented by his lawyers.
Justice Abiodun Adesodun, who is known to always begin his court proceedings with prayer’s to which those present respond with “amen”, called the case, paving the way for the delivery of the ruling.
This time around, Olukere, although absent from the session, had cause to smile as he was favoured by the judge, who had prayed for God’s guidance to do justice. His bail application was granted.
As the bail application received judicial stamp, news filtered into Ikere that the Olukere would soon be back home.
The two lanes of the dual carriageway which leads to Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, and Akure, the Ondo State capital, was shut down by the cheering crowd who made vehicular traffic impossible throughout the period.
Commercial motorcyclists honked their horns and performed stunts. Youths made some acrobatic displays on the road.
Some women who sighted the Olukere as his motorcade snaked through the crowd burst into tears of joy. Some of them were chanting his panegyrics known in Yoruba as oriki.
The Olukere thanked his subjects and other well-wishers for their support throughout the time he was away from the palace.
While asserting his innocence in the murder charge filed against him by the state government, Obasoyin appealed to his followers to be law-abiding as the murder case continues today.
The State High Court, earlier in the day, granted the traditional ruler bail in the sum of N5 million and two sureties in the like sum.
Justice Adesodun, in his ruling on the bail application filed by the Olukere said the application had merit and subsequently granted the defendant bail.
Apart from the N5 million bail bonds to be fulfilled by the monarch, Justice Adesodun ruled that the two sureties must swear to affidavits and produce evidence of tax clearance covering three years.
He further held that one of the sureties must produce evidence of land ownership within the jurisdiction of the court.
Olukere’s lead counsel, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele said: “This ruling is symbolic and historic; symbolic in the sense that it is in favour of justice and historic in the sense that it will enter into the judicial history of Ekiti.”
Justice Adesodun ruled that if released to credible surety, the applicant would not jump bail considering his position as an oba.
The judge said he had studied the affidavit filed by the defence and the counter-affidavit filed by the prosecution and noted that the grant or refusal of bail was predicated on some factors.
Some of the factors, according to him, included the nature and strength of evidence, severity of the punishment upon conviction, the probability that the accused will not present himself for trial and the likelihood of interfering in the case.
Justice Adesodun held that the grant or refusal of bail was at the discretion of the court but “it must be done judicially and judiciously.”
Although the monarch was not present in court on Friday, some of his chiefs, family members and supporters celebrated in hushed tones as the court rose.
Standing trial with the Olukere are Ajewole Sunday, Adetowoju Bode, Kayode Michael, Olowolafe Tola and Aluko Taiwo.
They are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy to murder, attempted murder and murder.
The Olukere was arrested and detained on December 25 last year shortly after his hotel, Arede Royal Suites located at Gbemisola area of Ikere-Ekiti, was attacked and vandalised by some individuals.
His statement during the inauguration of the hotel that Ikere was yet to get a candidate in the forthcoming governorship election was believed to have triggered the attack.
The monarch and his supporters gave the suspected hoodlums a hot chase and caught up with them at Ojumose area of Ado-Ekiti.
One of those who allegedly attacked the hotel, Kolade Adefemi, was killed during the scuffle.
The Olukere has been locked in a running battle with Governor Fayose on the non-presentation of staff of office to him and attempt by the state government to demolish the Ereja Shrine, located at the centre of Ikere.
Having gotten a reprieve and now presented with the privilege of attending court sessions from home, the onus is on the Olukere to prove his innocence.
