The Osun state police command has dismissed claims of an assassination attempt on Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Larooye II, the Ataoja of Osogbo.
The clarification comes a week after Ademola Adeleke,
governor of Osun, alleged that the monarch was attacked by political thugs in
his palace.
A statement issued on Friday by Abiodun Ojelabi,
spokesperson of the Osun police command, said findings from an investigation
panel led by Suleiman Bayonle, deputy commissioner of police in charge of the
criminal investigation department (CID), did not support claims of an
assassination attempt.
According to the police, the incident occurred on June 3
when Semilola Monday, a 26-year-old man also known as “Ankara”, scaled the
fence of the Ataoja’s palace and gained entry into the premises.
The command said palace staff and residents challenged the
suspect, who was unable to provide a reasonable explanation for his presence
and attempted to flee.
“In the course of ensuring pursuit he sustained bodily
injury and was rushed to Uniosun Teaching Hospital, Osogbo where he was
admitted for medical attention,” the statement reads.
The police said the suspect later admitted entering the
palace through the fence but denied any intention to assassinate or attack the
monarch or anyone else.
“He attributed his conduct to excessive admission of
substance,” the command said.
The investigation further revealed that the suspect was not
carrying a firearm or any offensive weapon at the time of his arrest, the force
added.
The police said he was subsequently arraigned before
Magistrate Court II in Osogbo on June 8 on a charge of attempted felony and
remanded in a correctional facility.
The command added that investigations remain open and urged
the public and palace representatives with additional information on the
incident to come forward.
The development follows allegations by Adeleke that the
monarch was shot at by thugs allegedly sponsored by the All Progressives
Congress (APC).
The governor, who is seeking re-election on the Accord party
platform, had claimed that Ataoja was targeted for publicly endorsing his
second-term bid.
The incident comes amid heightened political tension between
supporters of the governor and the APC ahead of the forthcoming governorship
election in the state.
On June 4, Asimiyu Ajibola, chairman of Accord in Osun, was
shot by gunmen in Osogbo in what was described as an assassination attempt.
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