Drama as Police apprehend fake traditional ruler in Ekiti

Drama as Police apprehend fake traditional ruler in Ekiti

The Police Command in Ekiti has confirmed the arrest of a self-acclaimed lawyer, Rufus Olarewaju Ajayi, for allegedly parading himself as a traditional ruler of Gbomina-Ekiti from Kwara state.

Ajayi, a native of Rore community in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara state was alleged to have been in the habit of parading himself at big events as a traditional ruler before he was apprehended by the Ado-Ekiti Central Police Divisional Headquarters last Monday.

The suspect was said to have contacted the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, few days ago, over his plan to organise an assemblage of about 100 traditional rulers in Ekiti for a meeting with a Presidential aspirant based in Abuja.

It was gathered that he had exchanged text messages with Oba Adejugbe while introducing himself as the Paramount ruler of Gbomina-Ekiti kingdom in Kwara state.

Ajayi was also alleged to have produced a banner with his picture in full traditional regalia alongside that of Oba Adejugbe announcing the planned meeting.

The content of the banner caught the attention of some members of the Ewi-in-Council, who immediately removed it and took it to Ewi for confirmation.

It was further learnt that the Ewi immediately sent for Ajayi and asked him to explain the motive behind his plan before the commencement of the scheduled meeting.

On arrival at the palace, Ajayi was unable to give a satisfactory explanation on his motives for the meeting, while the Ewi was suspicious of his traditional regalia.

“Immediately I saw him in his regalia with long beads and round beads like those used in Benin Kingdom, I became suspicious.

“I asked my Chiefs their opinion of a Yoruba Oba using traditional beads of Yoruba lineage over crossed beads of Igbo tradition, and they all expressed surprise as well.

“This raised my suspicion on the authenticity of his status. I, therefore, invited the Police to ask him questions on the genuineness of his status,” the Ewi explained.

Speaking further on the issue, Oba Adejugbe, who was disturbed, said he had asked the Police handling the case to do a thorough investigation on it.

He said he had also told the Police to brief him accordingly as the case progressed.

When contacted by our correspondent, the area crime officer, Mr Akerekan Usman, confirmed the invitation on the order of the Ewi, but quickly added that the suspect had duly been arrested because he could not give satisfactory explanation on his personality.

“We have officially arrested him, because he could not convince us of his traditional status. We have interrogated him and, as I talk with you, we have transferred the suspect and the case file to the Kwara State Police Headquarters in Ilorin for further investigation.

The divisional crime officer who claimed to hail from Oro-Ago, a community in Kwara South, said he found his claim as Oba Gbomina Ekiti as very disturbing, saying there is never a community named Gbomina Ekiti in Senatorial District.

“We have transferred him and the case file including all the exhibits to Ilorin where he would have to explain better to the Police authority,” he said.

Findings, however revealed that Ajayi had at several times granted interviews with newspapers and online medium in full traditional ruler regalia claiming to be a first-class traditional ruler from Gbomina Ekiti in Kwara State.

A video obtained by our correspondent showed that he attended a renowned Church where he had offered thanksgiving and testimony over his installation as a traditional ruler.

Speaking on the development, Oba Ezekiel Olawale Oyewale, the traditional ruler of Rore community, the suspect’s country home, disputed Ajayi’s claim of being a traditional ruler from Kwara, saying he was neither a chief nor a traditional ruler.

Oba Oyewole said Ajayi had been parading himself as the traditional ruler of a faceless kingdom and terrorising the people of the community with fake police personnel.

According to him, when his act of lawlessness became unbearable, we were forced to file a petition with the Central Investigation Bureau of the Kwara State Police Command Headquarters who, about a month ago, declared him wanted.

He had visited several notable traditional rulers and lately attended a church for a thanksgiving and testimony and even paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Olu of Warri in Delta.

“He did this in full traditional ruler regalia with beads and crown and customised shoes claiming to be a first-class traditional ruler.”

Oba Oyewole, however, debunked the insinuation that he was claiming to be insane, saying that, “the assumption that he is insane is not tenable as he was going about collecting money from the unsuspecting members of the public in the guise of been a traditional.”

The Rore traditional ruler, refused further comment on the suspect, saying that, “the case was already receiving the attention of the office of the Irepodun/Ekiti Traditional Council of Chiefs headed by the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo.

“The Rore Development Association and Omo Ibile Igbomina had, in their capacities, written series of letters and even addressed press briefings to dispute the existence of any kingdom called Gbomina Ekiti.

“We have documentary and visual evidences which we will be tendered at the appropriate time,” Oba Oyewole said.

Corroborating Oba Oyewole’s position on the development, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, said Ajayi’s unruly behaviour had constituted a threat to the polity and was a source of grave concern to the traditional institution in Kwara generally.

He had been giving us sleepless nights and soiling our reputation through newspaper interviews and going to places to introduce himself as traditional ruler of Gbomina Ekiti.

“Combing the entire length and breadth of communities under the Igbomina/Ekiti traditional council, there is no kingdom being referred to as Gbomina Ekiti.

“We are ready to give necessary support to police investigation in order to do a deserving justice to the issue once and for all,” Oba Adeoti, a first-class traditional ruler said.

Contributing, Rev. Joel Adeniran, president of Rore Development Association (RDA), while adding his voice to Ajayi’s false claim, said the community had tolerated his bad habit for a very long time, saying it’s time he paid for his notoriety.

“We are known to be peace-loving and law-abiding people in Rore community and our major priority has always been how to ensure the growth, progress and development of our community.

“Majority of the projects executed in the community are through self-help and we are not relenting.

“But Ajayi’s has been a thorn in the flesh of the efforts aimed at moving our community forward.

“He is neither a chief or a king but he is in the negative habit of terrorising the people with fake Police and thugs while disguising as a king,” he said.

A woman, who simply identified herself as Mrs Esther, a lecturer at the Army College of Education, Sobi Barrack, Ilorin and who claimed to be Ajayi’s immediate sister, disputed his claim of a traditional ruler, saying his case is beyond natural, but spiritual.

“I and other relatives had, at various times, tried our best to seek spiritual help in order to end his calamities, but to no avail,”she said.

Speaking with our correspondent, the spokesperson of the Kwara Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the receipt of the suspect, the case file and other exhibits from the Ekiti Command, saying investigations were ongoing.