BREAKING: Factional Alaaje, 3 others arraigned over ‘disinformation’
Khalid ABRAHAM
Four persons were arraigned Tuesday over alleged misinformation dished out to the public via the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) – Ajilete FM Ogbomoso, Oyo state.
Advertisement
The offensive radio announcements meant to be congratulatory messages and which were relayed repeatedly on the mentioned radio station on January 16 and 17, 2024, had as content such items as that the Oyo state governor Engr Seyi Makinde had approved the appointment of HRH Sunday Ademola Ogunmola as the “authentic” Alaaje of Aaje in Ogbomoso North local government.
Also, the advertorial had it that the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, had raised the hand of HRH Ogunmola as the Alaaje.
Advertisement
The rival Alaaje HRH Reuben Adesina Amao finding this a disinformation petitioned the Oyo state Commissioner of Police asking the sponsors of the advertorial to produce evidences, that is, approval letter from the governor or photo evidence (s) of the Soun raising the hand of his rival who incidentally is his younger cousin and former alter ego.
The two have been at loggerheads over the rightful claimant to the newly found chieftaincy.
In charge no: MCa/66c/2024, the defendants, Ademola Ogunmola, Tajudeen Oyeleke, Oladele Idowu and a journalist are facing a four count charge.
Advertisement
These charges include conspiracy “to commit offence to wit publication of false news, with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 517 of the criminal code cap 38 Vol. 11 Revised laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000; false publication at Ajilete FM Gambari, Ogbomosho by stating that the Soun of Ogbomosho Oba Ghandi Olaoye during a peace meeting between Sunday Ogunmola Ademola ‘m’ and Adesina Amao ‘m’, has raised the hand of Sunday Ogunmola Ademola as the authentic Baale of Aje, also that, the Governor of Oyo State Engr. Seyi Makinde has endorsed the same Sunday Ogunmola Ademola ‘m’ as the authentic Baale of Aaje, in the same meeting knowing same to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 59 of the criminal code cap 38 Vol II, Revised laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000; false publication at Ajilete FM Gambari, Ogbomosho by stating that the Soun of Ogbomosho Oba Ghandi Olaoye during a peace meeting between Sunday Ogunmola Ademola ‘m’ and Adesina Amao ‘m’, has raised the hand ol Sunday Ogunmola Ademola as the authentic Baale of Aje, also that, the Governor of Oyo State Engr. Seyi Makinde has endorsed the same Sunday Ogunmola Ademola ‘m’ as the authentic Baale of Aaje, in the same meeting knowing same to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punisheble under section 59 of the criminal ende cap 36 Vol. II, Revised law by Oyo State of Nigeria 2000; and provoke breach of peace by offensive publication at Ajilete FM Gambari, by falsely claiming that during De peace meeting between Sunday Ogunmola Ademola ‘m’ and Adesina Amao at the Palace of Soun of Ogbomosho, that Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Ghandi Olaoye ‘m’ raised the hand of Sunday Ademola Ogunmola as the authente Baale of Aje and that Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, endorsed same Sunday Ogunmola Ademola as authentic Baale of Aaje land, knowing same to be false and capable of igniting violence in Aaje community and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section (C) (5) of the criminal code cap 38 Vol. II. Revised laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.”
The accused however pleaded not guilty to all the four charges.
Magistrate R.B. Jimoh granted them bail after they produce two sureties each and two C of Os each.
The case is meanwhile adjourned till May 7.
