Ogun assault: Falana receives elderly victim, plans charges against remanded monarch
The National Vice President of the Committee for Defence of Human Rights, Yinka Folarin, on Wednesday, said that human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has offered to take over the case of the 73-year-old man, Elder Areola Abraham, who was seen being molested in a viral video by the Olorile of Orile Ifo, Oba Semiu Ogunjobi.
Folarin, in a statement on Wednesday, said Falana, who is the Board of Trustees Chairman of the CDHR, disclosed this when he received Elder Abraham at his chamber in Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
The human rights activist said Falana had offered to press charges against the suspended monarch for the breach of fundamental human rights
He said, “Femi Falana, SAN, and Chairman of the Committee for the Defence for Human Rights, Board of Trustees, received Elder Areola Abraham, JP, in audience today, Wednesday, at his Falana & Falana’s Chamber at Adekunle Fajuyi, GRA, Ikeja.
“Falana got briefed on the case and has taken it up, with plans to sue for breach of the victim’s fundamental human rights. He assured the victim that his fundamental rights would be upheld and that the chamber would provide the necessary legal assistance.
“Comrade Soyombo Sunday, a former chairman of CDHR Ogun and a human rights investigator, was also present during the audience.”
Folarin, who led Elder Abraham to the chamber of the activist lawyer, has, however, lauded Falana’s commitment to the cause of the downtrodden, the emancipation of an egalitarian society and a world where human rights are respected by all.
Meanwhile, the suspended Oba Ogunjobi was on Tuesday remanded in a correctional centre at Ilaro, Ogun State after failing to perfect his bail conditions as granted by the Ifo Magistrate Court.
The state spokesman for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Yinka Odukoya, confirmed this to our correspondent on Wednesday night.
Odukoya said, “Yes, he is in our custody and this definitely means that he was unable to perfect the bail conditions as granted by the court yesterday (Tuesday). But as soon as he is able to do that, he will be allowed to go.”
Giving further updates on Wednesday, the state comptroller, Abioye Adesina, said that as of Wednesday evening, the royal father was still in their custody.
Adesina said, “As at evening when I called, the royal father was still in our custody.”
The Ogun State Police Command had on Tuesday arraigned the suspended monarch over a viral video where he was seen assaulting the 73-year-old Areola.
The police prosecutor, Inspector O. Awoleke, in a charge sheet with number MH2b8c/2025 Commissioner of Police vs Abdul-Semiu, said the accused person was arraigned on three counts of conspiracy; assault and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
The charge reads thus, “That Abdul-Semiu ‘m’ and others at large on the 21st of January,2025 at about 1100hrs at Sojuolu Street, Ifo Magisterial District did conspire together to commit misdemeanour to wit: Assault and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code of Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you, Abdul Semiu, ‘m’, and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully assault one Areola Abraham by slapping him on his face and ear and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 351 of the Criminal Code Law of Ogun State of Nigeria,2006.
“That you, Abdul Semiu, ‘m’, and others at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by forcing one Areola Abraham ‘m’ to kneel down and assaulted him in the public and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria,2006.”
The accused person who appeared before Magistrate F.A Iroko pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.
The magistrate granted the accused person bail with two sureties in N5m each in like sum who must be residents within the court jurisdiction.
The matter was adjourned till March 6 for a hearing.
PUNCH Metro recalls that the state government had equally on Monday suspended Oba Ogunjobi for six months for behaving in a way that seems to bring the highly exalted traditional seat into disrepute.
