Not a laughing matter: The arrested ‘Oba’ tries to hide from the camera
JUST IN: Imposter arrested, remanded for parading himself as Arole Olu-Oje Onpetu
Yinka ADETUNJI
An imposter in Osun state has been arrested and remanded for parading himself as Arole Olu-Oje.
The ‘traditional ruler,’ Adeyinka Adesina Obawale Akofe Arolu 1, was picked up recently by the Osun state Police Command following a petition by Oba Sikiru Adeniji Adeyeba, who asserts himself as Onpetu Olojudo, Arole Olu Oje and the Supreme Head, Olu Oje lineage.
The Olu-Oje race, ogbomosoinsightonline.com notes, comprises among others the Oje people domiciled in Ogbomoso zone under the suzerainty of Onpetu of Ijeru Kingdom, currently Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran Lagbami Osekun III. The lineage according to history has its origin in Ile-Ife, Osun state.
The suspect based in Ajaokuta, Kogi state, was said to have been conferred with the title of traditional head of Yoruba community in the town but due to his alleged excessive behaviours was “dethroned.”
He however continued to parade himself as Arole Olu-Oje (head of all Olu-Oje people spread across the world) and this prompted the petition and a public notice by Oba Sikiru Adeniji Adeyeba, Onpetu Olojudo, Ife.
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The public notice, a copy of which was sent to the police reads, “This is to inform the general public and any corporate body concern that l H. R. M, Alayeluwa Oba Sikiru Adeniji Adeyeba, Ompetu Olojudo, Arole Olu Oje and the Supreme Head, Olu Oje lineage do hereby disassociate my humble self, the Ompetu Olojudo chieftancy council and the entire Olu Oje descendants, lfe, from the activities and dealings of One Adeyinka Adesina Akofe Obawale who goes around parading himself as Oba Adeyinka Adesina Akofe, Olu Oje, Ojenpetu, Gadumo, Ajaokuta, Local government of Kogi state.
“It was reliably gathered thaat due to his uncouth characters, gross disrespect for constituted royal authority, unguided utterances and misconduct. The Yoruba community of Gadumo has been revoked by the the paramount ruler of Gadumo from him and thus he has no right to parade himself as a monarch.
“Interestingly, he still continues to honour functions with every paraphernalia of royalty and parades himself as a monarch. Henceforth, by the virtue of the authority invested in me, l so declare his action as IMPERSONATION which his punishable under the law, this is also applicable to anyone he parades as Olori.
“The general public and any corporate body is hereby prohibited from dealing with him in the capacity of a traditional ruler. He is not, and should be arrested anywhere he is seeing parading himself as a Yoruba monarch.
“The police commissioner of Osun State has been copied and efforts are on the way to send letters to the Brazilian Embassy, Lagos and Abuja, The Embassy of Togo and Benin Republics, Lagos.”
After his arrest he was remanded in the Ilesha Correctional Centre by the magistrate pending the hearing of the matter.
He has since been arraigned at an Osogbo Magistrate Court on five count charges of addressing himself as Arole Olu-Oje (impersonation), threatening of life of Oba Adeyeba Sikiru Adeniyi, false defamatory statement, conspiracy to commit misdemeanour offences with conduct likely to cause breach of peace and conspiracy with others to address and parade himself as “King/Oba/Arole Olu-Oje.”
