By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

For failing to perfect their bail conditions, an Osun monarch and four others have been remanded in a correctional centre by the state High Court sitting in Ede, Osun State.

The monarch, His Royal Majesty, Elegbedi of Egbedi in Osun State, Oba Muideen Azeez, alongside four others, is standing trial on charges of arson, destruction of farm crops worth about ₦200 million, and illegal possession of firearms.

Our correspondent previously reported that the traditional ruler, along with Akibu Abioye, Yisa Akolapi, Rasidi Ayandiran, and Sarafadeen Abioye, was arraigned on June 27, 2024, over a 29-count charge relating to arson, destruction of farmland, illegal possession of firearms, and robbery.

The defendants were sent to prison after failing to meet their bail conditions, which included a bond of ₦5 million with two sureties each, as granted by Justice Kudirat Akano.

According to the trial judge, Justice Akano, the sureties must be level 16 civil servants with landed properties within the court’s jurisdiction, including two monarchs.

Earlier, one of the witnesses, Mustafa Waheed, narrated that the monarch assaulted him for bringing policemen to arrest him after he allegedly attacked and destroyed their farm.

He told the court, “In September 2019, my wife called me around 11:00 a.m. after I had left for work, informing me that some thugs had attacked Iloba and destroyed our farmland, along with some machines and equipment used for processing palm oil.

“I went to inform the police in Dada Estate, and they accompanied me to Iloba. When we arrived, I saw that the farmland had been destroyed.

“I took the police to where the king and his people were. Upon arriving, the king and his people attacked us. It was the king who slapped me and cut me with a cutlass. He said I had the effrontery to bring police officers to arrest him.”

However, Justice Akano adjourned the case to October 16 for the continuation of the hearing.