Five charged in false allegation against Lagos monarch

The police on Monday arraigned five men before the Lagos State High Court in Tafa Balewa Square for allegedly making a false statement of criminal allegation to the police against the Elegushi of Ikate land, Oba Saheed Elegushi.

The defendants who were arraigned before Justice Ibironke Harrison are  Adeigbagbo Harrison, Prince Toluwoleke Megba, Harrison Soji, Megbalewon Adeniji James and Segun Ekomale (Ikuomola).

The defendants whose residential addresses were not given are facing eight counts bordering on conspiracy, making false statements, and impersonation preferred against them by the police.

The police prosecution counsel, M. Animashaun, told the court that the defendants and others still at large conspired amongst themselves and made false statements to the public officer at the Force Criminal Investigation Department Alagbon, Ikoyi Lagos.

He told the court that on the same day, the defendants made a false statement of criminal allegation to the police against the Al-Mansour family, the information they knew or ought to have known was false.

The prosecutor further told the court that the defendants also made false statements to the police against Mr Chinedu Nweke, Chief Ogunyemi John, and  Monsunmola Ogunyemi.

Animashaun said the alleged offence was committed on November 30, 2022.

The prosecutor also told the court that the first defendant, Adeigbagbo

Harrison, between January and February 1, 2023, at the Itedo community in Ibeju Lekki, with intent to defraud, falsely presented himself as Oni Itedo, the paramount ruler of the Itedo community.

Animashaun alleged that after  Adeigbagbo Harrison falsely assumed the position of the paramount ruler of Itedo community, he conducted himself in a disorderly manner by inciting the youths and members of the Itedo community against Oba Elegushi, conduct which is likely to cause a breach of public peace.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 96, (a), 95, 380 (1) and 56 (1) (a), of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Following their not guilty pleas the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date and also urged the court to remand them at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

But the defendants counsel Ebun Olu- Adegboruwa (SAN), told the court that the defence had filed bail application for the defendants and then asked the court to allow the defendants continue with the administrative bail earlier granted them by the police.

He said,”They have been attending court faithfully and in furtherance of the pending application for bail we humbly urge my lord to allow the defendants to continue to enjoy the administrative bail granted to them by the police pending the hearing and determination of the application for bail”.

In her ruling Justice Harrison granted the request of the defence counsel.

She held that the court had observed that all the defendants have been attending court faithfully.

“ The defendants are to continue with the administrative bail granted to them by the police pending the hearing of the bail application,” she said.

The case was adjourned till April 8, 2025.