One reality both old and young in whatever locality we may be residing is; this is the internet age, and the phone with internet connectivity access can make or mar anyone. It’s no-longer the stone age, when anything and everything can be done and swept under the carpet.
Nigeria, a nation that can effect justice spot-on if it want, and can frustrate the same if it chooses.
It’s no longer news, the humiliating event that stormed the internet space some days back, precisely on 21 January, 2025 at 11:00 am. The man-man ridiculing situation happened at Sojuolu Street, Ifo, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Now suspended and in Police custody at the Ilaro Correctional Centre in Ogun State, traditional ruler of Orile Ifo, Oba Abdulsemiu Ogunjobi, was seen in a viral video assaulting an elderly man, by name Areola Abraham.
The custody of the traditional ruler was confirmed by the spokesperson for the correctional facility, Yinka Odukoya, on Wednesday. Yinka deduced that the monarch remained in custody as he had yet to perfect his bail.
The Ogun State Police Command had on Tuesday arraigned the suspended monarch over a viral video in which he was seen assaulting a 73-year-old man, Abraham Areola.
The charge sheet (MH2b8c/2025), stated that the suspended monarch was accused of conspiracy, assault and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.
The charge read: “That Abdul-Semiu ‘m’ and others at large, on January 21 2025, at about 1100 hrs at Sojuolu Street, Ifo Magisterial District, did conspire to commit a misdemeanor, to wit: assault and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you, Abdul-Semiu ‘m’, and others now at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully assault one Areola Abraham by slapping him on the face and ear, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 351 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you, Abdul-Semiu ‘m’, and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by forcing one Areola Abraham ‘m’ to kneel down and assaulting him in public, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.”
Oba Abdulsemiu Ogunjobi, accused, appeared before Magistrate F. A. Iroko, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
The court has however granted him bail with two sureties in the sum of N5,000,000.00 naira each, and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
The Magistrate has adjourned the case to March 6 for hearing.
The viral video showing Ogunjobi verbally and physically assaulting Areola was greeted by widespread condemnation.
The two-minutes footage, showed Areola been forced to kneel on the road while Ogunjobi berated him with curses and accused him of conspiring against him and his family.
The suspended monarch, reportedly a retired police officer, boasted about his connections within law enforcement and threatened to have Areola jailed. But obviously now shows that the law respects no-one.
The viral video also showed one of Ogunjobi’s aides struck the elderly man (Areola Abraham), and ordered him to prostrate before the monarch.
Worthy commendation has swiftly poured in from the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Ogun State on the Ogun State government and the Nigerian Polices’ quick actions by suspending the monarch.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Comrade Solomon Bankole, on Tuesday, the group condemned the assault and called for full prosecution.
Similarly, the state Police Community Relations Committee commended both the government and the police for taking swift action to ensure justice for the victim.
The PCRC also called on the police to arrest the individual who slapped the victim.
The State PCRC Chairman, Samson Kunle Popoola, assured the public of the committee’s impartial stance on matters affecting the fundamental human rights of Ogun State residents.
