NEWS FEATURE

Fola Odidiomo’s palace attack: arrest & interrogation follow

By Feyi Afisunlu  

Oba Afolabi Odidiomo

No fewer than 10 hoodlums, armed with guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons, invaded the Palace of Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State and brought down the palace on Saturday.

DailyPost gathered that the invasion of the palace was a reprisal by the hoodlums, who wanted to revenge the death of one of them.

According to a source, some of the thugs had earlier invaded Ilaje High School in the town, where an inter school quiz and sport competition was disrupted on Friday.

DailyPost had learnt that two of the hoodlums were arrested and taken to the palace, where they were handed over to the police.

Oba Odidiomo alleged that the attack on his palace was masterminded by a prominent Monarch in the area.

He traced the genesis of the attack to some few months after his installation, when Amepetu of Mahin installed two people within Igbokoda as Baale and Oloja.

The monarch explained that he frowned at the development since the two chiefs lived within his domain.

He claimed that Amapetu allegedly ordered some boys, known as ‘Mahin Task Force’, to provide security for the two chiefs.

He said, “I reported the development to Olugbo of Igboland, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, who promised to wade in the matter.

“There was also a parcel of land within Igbokoda, which was sold to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs at about N64m without my knowledge.

“I sent a petition to the ministry on the issue. A group of boys shot into my room through the window last year in an attempt to eliminate me.”

The Amapetu could not be reached for comments but one of his chiefs in the kingdom, Chief Francis Mesagan, described the attack on Olu’s palace as unfortunate.

The Chief said, “Oba Omowole of Mahin kingdom single-handedly installed Odidiomo as the Monarch of Igbokoda and will not be party to destroying the
house he built.

Mesagan alleged that the discovery of a boy’s corpse in a river around the community, ignited the attack on Olu of Igbokoda’s palace by the people of the community and not from external forces, as claimed by the Odidiomo.

But Oba Odidiomo maintained that the plot was hatched outside Igbokoda.

He said, “This is part of a sustained activities to rubbish me. Last November, they shot at me right in my bedroom.”

However the Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mr. Wole Ogodo confirmed the attack on the Olu of Igbokoda and the destruction of his palace.

Ogodo said, apart from three people, who were arrested on Saturday, additional five people were picked up on Sunday.

Police quiz Ondo monarch for ‘murder’

The police in Ondo State yesterday interrogated the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, over his alleged involvement in the killing of Prince Titiola Lebi.

Oba Odidiomo was invited following a petition sent to the Police Commissioner by the deceased’s lawyer, Chief Juwon Shemudara, who accused the monarch of complicity in Lebi’s murder.

The police had earlier arrested eight subjects of the monarch.

Sources said Oba Odidiomo arrived at the Police Headquarters on Igbatoro road, Akure, around 12:15pm.

He was brought in a black Siena bus.

Oba Odidiomo, dressed in white native attire, was reportedly led to the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where he was quizzed for several hours.

The monarch was still being interrogated as at press time.

A senior police officer, who spoke in confidence, said: “I do not think the man would be allowed to go home today (yesterday) because the allegation against him is serious.

“We have to do our job properly and ensure that justice is done. We are not saying the monarch is guilty or not. His interrogation will throw more light on the issue.”

The late Lebi and three of his friends, according to Shemudara, were allegedly seized by some palace boys at Igbokoda on March 13 and taken to Odidiomo’s palace, where they were brutalised.

Shemudara said he reported the matter to the police at Igbokoda, who stormed the palace to rescue the boys. He said only two of them boy’s were rescued and the late Lebi was nowhere to be found.

Lebi’s body was found floating on the Igbokoda river three days later.