The Elegbedi of Egbedi, Oba Muideen Azeez, was arrested inside an Osun State High Court in Ede on Monday following his appearance in a case where he was charged with arson. The monarch appeared before Justice Kudirat Akano alongside four others: Akeeb Azeez Abioye, Yisa Surajudeen Akolapo, Rasidi Ayandiran and Sarafadeen Abioye. They are accused of armed robbery at a farm in Iloba, Ede Judicial Division, on September 3, 2019, during which about 70 kegs of palm oil, palm kernel, palm fruits, goats and other domestic animals valued at N10 million were taken.
Defence counsel M. Atobatele called four witnesses during Monday's proceedings, including three police officers and the palace secretary. Assistant Superintendent of Police Akindosu Olusoji, who served at Ido-Osun Police Division between 2019 and 2021, told the court he had responded to a complaint from the monarch about damage to his farm. He said he found a pastor and labourers spraying chemicals on maize crops and arrested them, adding, "I never arrested any of the defendants. They were the ones who came to complain."
Justice Akano adjourned the case to June 17 for continuation. Shortly after the session ended, police operatives arrested Oba Muideen Azeez within the court premises and took him into custody. Confirming the arrest, Osun State Police Command spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi said the action was carried out pursuant to a court order and remand warrant. He stated, "The officers acted strictly based on a court order. There was an arrest and remand warrant issued by a court. He was arrested and remanded in the Ile-Ife Correctional Centre based on a court order."
Oba Muideen Azeez was arrested on a court order the same day he testified that police had previously acted on his complaint against alleged farm vandals. The monarch now sits in Ile-Ife Correctional Centre under a remand warrant while facing charges tied to a N10 million robbery at a farm. His arrest inside the courtroom after giving evidence raises questions about the sequence of judicial processes in the case. The police say they followed a court order, but the timing and location of the arrest have added tension to the proceedings.
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