The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has summoned a Kwara state monarch, Onipe of Ipe, in Oyun Local Government Area, Oba Lawal Mufutau and four others over their alleged role in the burning and destruction of a bulldozer valued at N25 million.
But the monarch’s counsel says the allegations are untrue.
The bulldozer belonging to an Offa-based contractor, Rafiu Orimadegun, was allegedly set ablaze in December 2020 by some people in Ipee Community over an allegation of trespassing on their land.
The monarch, Daily Trust further learnt, in company of some of his subjects, Samuel Dara, Abiodun Agboola, Gani Afolabi, were invited to the Police Force headquarters in Abuja following a petition forwarded to the IGP by the Engineer’s counsel, Barrister Sharafdeen Ibrahim.
He has since been reportedly granted bail on self-recognition while others were detained at the police headquarters in Abuja when both parties visited last week.
Orimadegun in the petition stated that he was contracted by one Shola Opadokun for the clearing and construction of a road in a place called Ori-Ota in the Offa Local Government Area of the State.
He added that work commenced on the site after due payment was made adding that his client’s manager, one Owoyale and the engine operator were deployed to the site to low bed for the bulldozer.
The Counsel further revealed that Orimadegun received a call from Oba Mufutau that he should remove his bulldozer from the land otherwise it will be burnt.
All efforts to pacify the monarch was said to have proved abortive as the bulldozer was set on fire with the workers on the site took to their heels in order to save their lives.
The engineer lamented saying, “Immediately I got the information to remove the machine, I moved down to the site but before I got there, the machine has already be set on fire.”
The counsel told Daily Trust on phone that the matter was taken to the force headquarters in order to ensure justice and to show that no one is above the law.
He said those that perpetrated the act are working freely with the confidence that they are above the law and no one can hold them for the crime.
“What we expect now is justice, reason for taking further steps was to convince ourselves that justice can still be served in this country. It’s almost two months since my client has launched a complaint with the police but we’re not satisfied with how it was handled.
“We don’t want crisis and we don’t want to go into any war with anyone but we want a kind of negotiations, they can approach us, we are available for settlement, after all, we’re in the same neighbourhood,” he said.
Counsel to Ipee Community, Barrister Adewale Olatunde said that the allegation made in the petition was not true adding that no one has been arrested.
He said that the Petitioners only want to Implicate the people of Ipee that they were the ones responsible for the burning of his Caterpillar.
“We have the tape of his discussion, what he alleged in his Petition was different from what was in the tape. He cannot change what was contained in the discussion in the tape and I think it is now too late for him to do that. Nobody was arrested. However, we were all invited to Abuja,” he added.
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