The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Monday ordered the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to investigate the allegations of crime levelled against the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III.
The order was sequel to the order of Mandamus the duo of Jacob Oluokun and Sulaiman Ishola brought before the court presided over by Justice Ayo Emmanuel.
The applicants asked the court to investigate the allegations of crime contained in the letter dated March 18, 2014 with the title “Unprecedented criminality, flagrant human rights violations, bomb planting, gun running and unresolved assassination in Oyo town, Oyo State” which was delivered to IG office on April 17, 2014.
The application with the Suit No: FHC/IB/CS/54/2014 was filed at the Federal High court by the applicants counsel, Biodun Abdur-Raheem, on July 16, 2014 and in the affidavit in support of the application, the applicants averred that the attention of the respondent was drawn to various incidences of commission of crimes in Oyo, Oyo State.
It was stated that as a result of the crimes, prominent people, particularly of Isale Oyo extraction, had lost their lives through organised assassination while others are still living in perpetual fear of imminent attack.
“That instance of the crimes includes assassination, assassination plots, gun-running, acts of terrorism, brigandage and petty stealing.
“That perpetrators of these heinous crimes have not been apprehended by the respondent, his officers and men under him and that recently, one Mojeed Agbaje, who hitherto was leading the armed group set-up by Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, Alaafin of Oyo, and code-named TOBALASE made a public announcement which was vividly captured in a video coverage.
“That he gave leads as to how crimes already committed in Oyo and its environs could be detected and the identities of the personalities likely to be involved in the crimes.
“That as a citizen of this country and considering the fact that victims of the said crimes are my kits and kins coupled with the fact that several attempts have been made on my life and that of the second applicant.
“That I took the opportunity of the video coverage and documents in my possession to petition the Respondent with regards to the crimes video Exhibit ‘AB1’ and that the petition was delivered to one Sergeant Augustine, in the office of the Respondent (IGP), located at Louis Edet House, Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja on April 17, 2014 (Exhibit AB 2).
“That the Respondent has since refused to cause investigation to be conducted on the information contained in the petition despite repeated reminders and requests and that I know as of the fact that it is the statutory function of the Respondent to detect, prevent and investigate crimes,’’ part of the affidavit read.
In the written address in support of the motion on notice for Mandamus, the applicants’ counsel, Abduraheem, said the application was in pursuant to Order 34 Rules 3(4) of Federal High Court Rules and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
Abduraheem claimed that the applicants are community leaders and members of Isale Oyo Community in Oyo State that are concerned about spate of murder, attempted murder, gun running and other heinous crimes going on without any of the culprits brought to book.
He argued that the applicants had shown sufficient legal interest to protect and urged the court to grant the application as prayed and on reasons adduced following which the presiding judge, Ayo Emmanuel, granted all the prayers of the applicants, though, there was no legal representation of the Respondent during the sitting.
This is a high profile case and let us see what will happen at the end of the day.
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