PRESS STATEMENT BY THE HEAD OF OJO ORISADEKO ASALU-ELEMO ROYAL FAMILY OF ISOLO, PRINCE MONSURU AGBABIAKA ON THE VIRAL VIDEO OF PRINCE BIODUN SHEKONI
The attention of the Ojo Orisadeko Asalu Elemo Royal Family of Isolo has been drawn to a viral video footage in which Prince Issa Abiodun Shekoni Faronbi was handcuffed by police detectives over a land matter.
Ordinarily, we would not have dignified the authors and sponsors of the viral video with a response but in order to correct the wrong impression being cast in the minds of right thinking members of the public, we are compelled to state emphatically that the video was posted on the social media ostensibly to tarnish the good image and integrity of the newly installed Oba Issa Abiodun Faronbi Shekoni, the Osolo of Isolo Kingdom.
The viral video is the latest in the series of calculated attempts by disgruntled opponents led by one Alhaji Dayo Aduke Thomas to stop His Royal Majesty from ascending the throne of his forefathers.
But this did not come as a surprise as Dayo Thomas and his cohorts had earlier failed in their bid to remove Prince Shekoni as Secretary of the Ojo Orisadeko Asalu Elemo Royal Family over spurious allegations which were dismissed by the family. Dayo Aduke Thomas is a known keen supporter of one of the aspirants to the Osolo throne. It is on record that he has never hidden his disdain for Prince Shekoni and would stop at nothing to ensure he never ascend the throne by cooking up pot of lies and character assassination. His subterfuge moves to disparage the character of Prince Shekoni is well known to the family. He had unsuccessfully orchestrated the removal plot to favour his preferred candidate to the Osolo throne. But he could not change the course of destiny as Prince Shekoni through the divine grace of God is today the Osolo of Isolo Kingdom.
Indeed, the import of the video with all intent and purposes is riddled with malice, desperation and character assassination. For the avoidance of doubt, it is precipitated on a contentious four plots of land at Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos. To set the record straight, before his ascension to the Osolo throne, Prince Shekoni being the Secretary of the Ojo Orisadeko Asalu Elemo Royal Family, the owner of the vast land at Ajao Estate, Lagos was saddled with the task of mediating over ownership claim to the four plots of land purportedly bought from the family some years ago by the three respective individuals. Even though, one of the claimants had already developed two out of the four plots, the family insisted on verifying documents of the three claimants. During the verification exercise, one of them was found to have forged the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) on the land; one had no titled documents while the third individual presented authentic documents obtained from the family.
To make peace, we advised two of the parties to share the plots equally. But it appeared this did not go down well with one of the parties who wrote a petition to the police through Dayo Aduke Thomas. The matter is presently a subject of litigation before Justice Balogun at Ikeja High Court.
As the matter subsisted at the court, investigation revealed that another petition purportedly written by Dayo Thomas alleging criminal infractions against Prince Shekoni was again forwarded to the police. But rather than joining Shekoni as a co-defendant in the subsisting court case, police operatives from FSWAT at FCIID Adeniji Adele Road, acted over-zealously by invading Shekoni's office at Agodo to effect his arrest without prior invitation or notice. In a manner likened to horse- taking they arrested two of his staff with the intention of luring their target.
As a law abiding citizen, Shekoni showed up at their office few hours later completely oblivious of the charges being preferred against him. On enquiry, he found out the matter was in connection to the contentious four plots at Ajao Estate. Despite reminding them the matter was already in court, they insisted on detaining him at their station before he was eventually released later in the night.
The sad development prompted Prince Shekoni to enforce his fundamental human right by obtaining a pre-emptive court order against his invitation, arrest, detention and prosecution by the police on the matter. The order was granted by Justice M.A. Savage of Ikeja High Court on 20th November 2024.
However, in flagrant disregard to Justice Savage's order, the same police operatives waylaid Shekoni at Ajao Estate shortly after attending a meeting called by the Executive Chairman of Isolo LCDA, Otunba Bayo Olasoju with co-aspirants to the Osolo throne. In a commando style, he was forcefully abducted and taken to Adeniji Adele where he was not only handcuffed but was treated like a hardened criminal. Despite demanding for the enforcement of his fundamental human right, he was told by the Head of the operatives that he was being held in custody for jumping bail- an allegation which he vehemently denied because he was never invited to appear before the police or any law court prior to his abduction.
Nevertheless, Shekoni submitted himself for interrogation during which one of the police operatives was seen recording him on his mobile phone. He intimated the Head of the FSWAT team who immediately accosted the concerned officer. But the officer denied recording him on his phone. The Head of the team, however, promised to deal with the officer if the video is posted online. Shekoni was later released few minute after midnight following the intervention of the Inspector General of Police in the matter.
The matter, however, suffered momentary setback until the day of Shekoni's official coronation as the new Osolo of Isolo on 28th of March 2025 when the video surfaced online and subsequently shared across the social media with various derogatory captions which portrayed Shekoni as a criminal not worthy of the exalted stool of Osolo of Isolo.
We are convinced beyond reasonable doubt the video was posted with malicious intent to cause irreparable damage to the integrity of the new monarch. Hence, we are sparing no effort at seeking redress in court. To this end, we have instructed our lawyers to institute litigation against the originator of the video with a view to identifying its sponsors for prosecution.
Similarly, our lawyers have our firm instruction to sue the Nigerian Police for violating Prince Shekoni's fundamental human right and for being an accessory to cause irreparable damage to the image and personality of Oba of Isolo.
While we appreciate the deluge of support and admiration for our new king, His Royal Majesty, Oba Issa Abiodun Faronbi Shekoni extends hands of fellowship to all and sundry, urging them to join him in the task of taking Isolo to greater heights-one which our forebears would be proud of.
Signed
Prince Monsuru Agbabiaka Barr. Adeola Sunday
(Family Head) (Solicitor to the Family)
No comments:
Post a Comment