The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has struck out the name of Oba Solomon Akinola, the Oloko of Oko, from the case involving charges of attempted murder, assault, robbery, stealing, and land grabbing.
The charges were originally instituted by the Oyo State Government against Akinola and 14 others in November 2023.
The presiding judge, Justice Kareem Adedokun, delivered the ruling on Monday following an application by the Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Abiodun Aikomo, requesting the withdrawal of charges against the monarch.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr. I.O. Abdulazeez, informed the court of the directive from the Attorney-General but provided no explanation for the sudden decision to withdraw the case against the traditional ruler, who was the second defendant.
Justice Adedokun, after striking out Oba Akinola’s name from the charge sheet, adjourned the trial of the remaining 14 defendants to September 18, 2025.
The judge also instructed the defence counsel, Mr. O.A. Okeyinka, to ensure that all defendants are present in court on the adjourned date.
The decision to withdraw the charges against the monarch has drawn outrage and disappointment from some quarters, particularly from one of the complainants, Dr. Isaac Abiodun.
In his reaction, Abiodun, the Chief Executive Officer of Tropical Culture Farm, expressed deep sadness over the development, describing it as a clear indication of a looming crisis in the administration of criminal justice in Oyo State.
He lamented that removing Oba Akinola’s name from the case, more than a year after the prosecution had already closed its evidence, was a grave injustice to the common man.
According to him, “The directive by the Oyo State Attorney-General to withdraw the case against Oba Akinola, who is the principal suspect, is a travesty of justice and a very sad development.”
Abiodun further stressed that substantial evidence had already been tendered before the court, including accounts of terror allegedly unleashed by the monarch on Aagba village.
He said the court had seen proof of how Oba Akinola personally supervised the torture of three Aagba villagers within his palace, where they were beaten and macheted.
“We have documented the destruction of valuable property and the varying degrees of injuries inflicted on victims, yet the court is not being given the opportunity to dispense justice in this matter,” Abiodun stated.
He also decried that since the latest attack, which resulted in the burning down of the village, farming activities have been impossible for the affected people.
The people of Aagba village, alongside Abiodun, are the nominal complainants in the matter. They allege that the defendants invaded their village, unleashing violence, destroying property, and leaving many residents injured.
A petition was initially submitted to the Inspector-General of Police, who ordered a comprehensive investigation. Subsequently, the case was transferred to the Attorney-General of the Federation, who later handed it over to the Oyo State Attorney-General for prosecution.
The 14 remaining defendants still facing the 27-count charge include:
Chief Sunday Aderinto
Chief Jimoh Asimiyu
Timothy Aderinto
Matthew Akintaro
Rafiu Ganiu
Adejare Adeleru
Samson Ogunmola
Zachiaus Adeleru
Kamorudeen Ajibade
Raji Rasaq
Mutiu Arowosaye
Oyeyemi Oyelekan
Olusegun Oyelekan
Sheriff Adio
All the defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the trial is expected to continue on the rescheduled date.