Court Sentences Ondo Monarch To 3yrs Imprisonment
The Baale of Ebute Ipare Community in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state, Francis Ogundeji, has been sentenced to three years in jail by an Ondo State Chief Magistrates’ Court in Igbokoda.
The sentence was handed out by Senior Magistrate E.A Manuwa on Monday.
According to the ruling, the Monarch bagged the sentence for disobedience of court order.
This follows after the Monarch, Ogundeji, and a certain Ikuejamoye Thomas were charged with selling land in the community in November 2022, in contravention of standing court order by the state High Court sitting in Okitipupa and a magistrates’ court in Igbokoda against such sale.
“That you, Francis Ogundeji ‘M’, a farmer, and (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas ‘M’, a pensioner, and others at large, on a date in November 2022 at about 12 p.m. at Ebute Ipare Community in the Igbokoda Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit an offence, to wit, contempt of court, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you, Francis Ogundeji ‘M’, a farmer, and (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas ‘M’, a pensioner, and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did disrespect the order of the court delivered on the 10th of April 2019 in Suit No: HOK/51/2018 by selling Ebute Ipare Ogunowo descendant land and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 133 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you, Francis Ogundeji ‘M’, a farmer, and (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas ‘M’, a pensioner, and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did forge the land receipt of Ebute Ipare Community Ogunowo descendant land by backdating the receipt of sale to read November 2022 instead of 16th April 2017, knowing it to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you, Francis Ogundeji ‘M’, a farmer, and (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas ‘M’, a pensioner, and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did disrespect the court order delivered on the 11th of September 2018 in Suit No: MKD/3M/2018, which was presided over by His Worship E.A Manuwa, Magistrate Grade I at the time, over the tussle of the land committee of Ebute Ipare Community, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 133 (1 & 9) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006,” the charge againts the two read.
While the court discharged and acquitted Thomas on counts one, two, and four, it, nonetheless found he and Monarch Ogundeji guilty in count three and sentenced them to three years imprisonment with an option of a fine of N150,000 each.
The terms of imprisonment for the first defendant would run consecutively, the court ruled.
“The first defendant, Ogundeji Francis, is hereby sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on count one or to pay the sum of N30,000 to the state government as a fine.
“The first defendant, Ogundeji Francis, is also sentenced to three months’ imprisonment or to pay the sum of N30,000. The second defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted of the offence in count two.
“In count three, both the first and second defendants are sentenced to three years’ imprisonment each or to pay a fine of N150,000 each to the state government.
“The first defendant, Ogundeji Francis, is also sentenced to one month’s imprisonment or to pay the sum of N30,000 to the state government. The second defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted of the offence in count four,” the Court held.
