A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Supare, Ondo State, was told how a traditional ruler, the Olusupare of Supare-Akoko, Oba Adejoro Adedeji, allegedly attempted to rape a house- wife, Olori Comfort Awogbamila, in his house.
The police also told the court how the wife of the monarch, Mrs. Sherifat Adedeji, engaged in public brawl with Mrs Awogbamila twice within a week.
Mrs. Adedeji is facing a two-count charge of engaging in public brawl and conduct likely to cause breach of peace before the Magistrate, Mrs Olubunmi Olujiyigbe.
The charge sheet read in court said that: “You, Comfort Awogbami and Olori Sefifat Adedeji on May 4, 2012 at about 8pm at Supare Magisterial District unlawfully involved yourself in fighting in public at Ugbe Quarters, Supare-Akoko and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 83 of the Criminal Code cap 37 Vol 11, Laws of Ondo State.”
The monarch’s wife and her co-accused, Mrs Comfort Awogbamila, were also charged with conduct likely to cause breach of peace, contrary and punishable under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol 11 Laws of the state.
At yesterday’s hearing, the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, Mr. Ewarawon Fayowole, informed the court how Olori Adedeji fought with Mrs Awogbamila, on May 4, and the incident led to an uproar the town.
Fayowole tendered the statement of Mrs Awogbamila where she alleged that Oba Adejoro invited her to his personal house and attempted to forcefully have canal knowledge of her.
However, a mild drama ensued in the court when lawyer to the first accused, Mr. Duro Adonis, accused the police of proffering wrong charges against the accused persons.
Adonis, who was cross- examining the IPO, asked him to read the statement made by Mrs Awogbamila in the open court, but this was objected to by the prosecutor, Mr. Steven Dickson and the magistrate.
The counsel argued that reading the statement would establish that the police instead of charging the incident of May 4 which was an attempted rape, charged the incident of April 28 which was an affray.
The court which agreed that the statement should be read in the open court, later asked the counsel to just study it and ask questions following the stunning revelation therein.
Part of the statement read showed that the monarch and his wife fought with Mrs Comfort, a development that made her to be admitted at Federal Medical Centre, Owo, for more than three days.
According to the statement, the monarch sent his daughter, Eddy, to invite Mrs Awogbamila to his house over the fight that took place on April 28 between her and the monarch’s wife.
Mrs Awogbamila alleged that on getting to the place, the monarch excused other people in the house except her, took her to a private room and forcibly attempted to rape her.
According to her, during the struggle, she managed to escape being raped by the Oba, but that she had her dresses torn.
She alleged that “in the ensuing melee, the wife of the monarch also joined in beating me until people of the town came to my rescue.”
