Kwara Chief Sentenced For Parading Self As King

A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has penalised one Chief Sunday Ayantola for parading himself as the king of Ayedun in the Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.

Ayantola was dragged to court by the state government following complaints from members of the community over Ayantola’s moves.

Ayantola was charged to court by the government for parading himself as a king without being recognised or appointed “contrary to Section 16 (2) of the Kwara State Chieftaincy Law and Section 158 of the Penal Code” and punishable under the same law.

In the judgement handed down by the trial judge, Justice Taoheed Umar, on Wednesday, Ayantola was sentenced to one year non-custodial imprisonment.

Ayantola was also ordered to sign an undertaking that compels him to ensure peace and orderliness in the community.

He was also to report every first Monday of the month to the Ilorin Police Station for one year.

Umar in the judgement said Ayantola declared himself as “His Royal Majesty, Obaoye of Iwoye” shortly after the paramount ruler of the community, Obajisun of Ayedun, Dr Olusegun Rotimi, installed him as his second-in-command.

The court further warned Ayantola to desist from causing division in the community saying, “‘Iwoye is not a different town from Ayedun.

“Evidence before me is that Ayedun kingdom is made up of three wards which are Ikotun, Iwoye, and Odo-Ila; and Iwoye is just a ward or quarter in Ayedun under the Obajisun.”

“I’m satisfied that the prosecution has proved the second count of giving false evidence under Section 158(1) of the Penal Code beyond reasonable doubt. Rather than proceed to convict the defendant, I will utilise the provision of sections 445 and 446 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

“I hereby order the defendant to enter into cognisance to be of good behaviour with two sureties. The defendant shall appear before O/C, Legal, of the state CIID, who is hereby appointed as the Probation Officer on 1st Monday of every month for a period of one year, pursuant to Section 446(1) of Administration of Criminal Justice Law.”