The traditional ruler of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi, has threatened to banish a controversial herbalist from the town for his alleged complicity in the death of one of his clients, Miss Busayo Ojo.
The Nation exclusively reported on April 30, 2016, how the popular herbalist called Alado allegedly prompted the late Busayo to sleep with her father, Clement, when they came for treatment in his ‘clinic’.
Busayo, 35, believed to be under the spell of a “spirit husband” was taken to Alado by her father, Clement , sometime in May, 2015.
They left their home town in Ogbagi Akoko to see Alado for treatment during which Alado allegedly forced them into the abominable act.
Busayo was said to have mysteriously fallen ill afterwards, leading to her death on April 17, 2016.
She however revealed what transpired during the visit to the herbalist before she died.
Apparently embarrassed by the alleged excesses of the herbalist and the negative light it has painted the community, Oba Alabi, gave the witch doctor “the last warning”.
Alado reportedly drew the ire of the Ilawe traditional cabinet, the Alawe-in-Council, who took turns to lampoon him for allegedly extorting innocent people in the name of helping them to find solutions to their problems.
These were said to be some of the issues that transpired on Tuesday at a meeting held by the Alawe, his chiefs and a delegation of chiefs from Ogbagi Akoko in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The death of Busayo had sparked tension in Ogbagi with the chiefs of the town spoiling for war with the Ekiti-based herbalist.
Leaders in Ogbagi community alleged that Alado, who runs a radio show to promote his business, ordered Busayo’s father to have sex with her after giving them some fetish objects.
The father of the deceased lady also allegedly confessed to Ogbagi chiefs that the herbalist ordered him to caress her daughter’s private part and suck her breasts to ward off the spirit husband.
The herbalist however denied knowing the late Busayo and her father.
But Clement had maintained that he is in possession of the herbalist’s consultation card issued during their visit.
Ogbagi chiefs have since thrown a challenge to Alado to come over to their community and swear to a traditional oath to prove his innocence.
In a telephone conversation with The Nation on Thursday, one of the senior chiefs in Ogbagi community, High Chief Oshodi, said concerned community leaders in the town paid a visit to the traditional ruler of Ilawe and his chiefs on the matter.
He explained that the Owa of Ogbagi, Oba Victor Olasehinde Adetona, could not make the trip.
Oshodi disclosed that another meeting, which the Owa of Ogbagi would attend, would be held soon.
Those in the delegation from Ogbagi to Ilawe include himself (High Chief Oshodi), High Chief Arua, Chief Eli, Chief Asoje, Chief Bobatolu and Busayo’s father.
He said: “We (Ogbagi chiefs) went to Ilawe on Tuesday where we met with the Alawe of Ilawe and the Alawe-in-Council and they all expressed concern with what Amusa Baba Alado has been doing.
“In fact, the chiefs lambasted him and dressed him down for all the alleged atrocities he has been committing by extorting money from people and asking them to do unseemly things.
“The Ilawe chiefs said many people had been reporting him on the sums he had allegedly collected from them; people he collected huge sums of money from all in the name of helping them find solutions to their problems.
“In fact, the Alawe of Ilawe told Alado pointblank that the latest incident involving Clement and his daughter, Busayo, should be the last time he (Alado) should be involved in such a scandal.
“Kabiyesi Alawe told Alado that if he is involved in another act again that could bring the name of the town into disrepute, he would be banished from the town.
“Now that we the chiefs from Ogbagi have gone to the Alawe, he (the Alawe) and our own king (the Owa) will now meet as soon as our Kabiyesi returns from his trip.”
Oshodi told our reporter that Alado initially denied knowing the victim and his father but later admitted knowing them when the herbalist was confronted with evidence.
He said: “Before Alado confessed, he first denied knowing the victim and his father. In fact, we heard when we got to Ekiti that he had been severally warned by his colleagues over some things people have been saying about him.
“When he initially denied, the CD of a broadcaster that exposed him on air, was played to him (Alado) and he knew the game was up.”
When asked what will happen if Alado refuses to come to Ogbagi as demanded by the chiefs of the town, Oshodi said: “There are traditional rituals to be carried out if he fails to come and the whole world will see the effect.”
