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Ejigbo monarch, visual artist in court over masquerade

By Tope Templer Olaiya
19 January 2016   |   11:15 pm
SIX persons, including a masquerade, have been arrested and charged before a Magistrate’s Court in Ejigbo for allegedly attacking the palace of a traditional ruler in Ejigbo, Lagos State. The arraignment attracted the presence of the Oba of Ejigbo, Oba Moruf Ojoola, and residents, who came to see the suspects in court over the breach…
The masquerade in contention

The masquerade in contention

SIX persons, including a masquerade, have been arrested and charged before a Magistrate’s Court in Ejigbo for allegedly attacking the palace of a traditional ruler in Ejigbo, Lagos State.

The arraignment attracted the presence of the Oba of Ejigbo, Oba Moruf Ojoola, and residents, who came to see the suspects in court over the breach of public peace in the community.

However, they were disappointed, as they did not see any masquerade, only human beings were brought to court and arraigned.

It was gathered that when the police arrested the masquerade and the mask was removed, it was Fatai Oluwa, who was the ‘spirit’ inside, allegedly causing mayhem in the area with other members of the cult.

Oluwa was charged with the alleged offence the masquerade committed under the criminal Code.

Apart from Oluwa, five other persons were also charged before the court with the same offence. They are foremost visual artist, Jelili Atiku, Lasis Muraina, Adede Goloba and two other females, Daramola Jelilat and Monsurat Fasola.

According to the police, the suspects, last Thursday, along Ifoshi road, Ejigbo, did conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of public peace. The police alleged that the group members were throwing stones and bottles at the palace before they intervened, adding that the suspects and others at large went round the area, intimidating the public and circulating a publication to provoke the community against the monarch and leaders of Ejigbo community.

However, some youths on Monday stormed the Ejigbo Police Division to protest against alleged illegal arrest and detention of Jelili Atiku, who had come for a programme in the area on the orders of the traditional ruler.

Atiku, a visual and performance artist, who staged a performance on domestic terrorism in the area, was said to have been arrested on the evening of Sunday, because the traditional ruler allegedly felt the artist did not consult him before the performance.

One of the youths, who identified himself only as Akeem, said “the ruler uses men of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) and policemen to oppress the people. The police in Ejigbo have been compromised. What we are demanding is that Atiku should be released. He has committed no crime. We ask for his release from the police.”

But a palace source said the group was using an unlawful masquerade and cult called Aragamago to attack the palace of Oba Moruf Ojoola. The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. J.O.E Adeyemi, granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum. They were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail condition. The matter was adjourned till February 1, 2016.

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