Ijegun Monarch quizzed over palace assault

Cyriacus Izuekwe

The Assistant Inspector General of police, AIG, Zone 2, Bala Hassan has summoned a traditional ruler over his alleged assault on one of his subjects in his palace in Ijegun area of Lagos State Western Nigeria.

Oba Nureni Alani Akinremi of Ijegun kingdom, was quizzed on Monday following a petition written by the victim, Rasaq Salau that he was assaulted in the palace of the monarch.

P.M.NEWS gathered that Akinremi was asked to write a statement in response to the petition against him before he was granted administrative bail.

Our correspondent gathered that Salau bought some plots of land from the late head of Akinremi family before he died but trouble started after Oba Akinremi was installed, he summoned Salau and told him that he wanted to take back a parcel of land he bought from his family 18 years before he was crowned.

An embattled Salau refused and told him that he genuinely bought the land from the family and had already developed it.

Angered by his response, Akinremi ordered one of his chiefs to slap Salau several times, humiliating him before he allowed him to leave the palace with a promise to further deal with him.

The matter was then reported to the police at Isheri Oshun division and SCID Panti before it was transferred to Zone 2.

Salau told our reporter that the police at SCID who initially handled the matter blamed Akinremi and his chiefs for subjecting him to such humiliation and asked them to make peace with him or they would be charged to court.

He said instead of apologizing to him and making peace, they resorted to more assault. He said they threatened his life and also said they will takeover his property in the area.

Salau told our correspondent that he wants justice in the matter and want those including Akinremi to be charged to court to face prosecution.

When our reporter contacted Oba Akinremi over the arrest and assault, he confirmed that he was summoned by the police and he had reported and cleared himself.

Akinremi denied that he assaulted Salau in the palace and explained that the case is now a court matter over a land issue which is before the Lagos High court.

He said it was on the basis of the matter that he wrote the petition and made false allegations to blackmail him.

When our reporter visited Zone 2 on Monday, the Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, zone 2, CSP Adebowale Lawal confirmed that there was such a petition.

He said he was not yet fully briefed on the matter and would make inquiry.

He explained that once the AIG approves the petition, the police will conduct investigation and make a report which will guide them on the next step to be taken.