Ondo monarch bags three years imprisonment over contempt of court

An Ondo State Chief Magistrates Court sitting in Igbokoda has sentenced the Baale of Ebute Ipare Community in Ilaje Local Council Area of the state, Francis Ogundeji, to three years imprisonment.

Ogundeji and one Ikuejamoye Thomas were charged with selling land in the community in November 2022, against a court order.

An Ondo State High Court sitting in Okitipupa and a Magistrates Court in Igbokoda had restrained people from selling the land, but the traditional ruler, in collaboration with Thomas, went ahead and sold the land.

The convicts who were arrested for backdating a receipt of the sale of the land were charged with four counts of contempt of court and falsehood.

The charge sheet read, “That you Francis Ogundeji ‘M’ a farmer, (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas M’a pensioner, and others at large sometime in the month of November 2022 at about 12 p.m. at Ebute Ipare Community in the Igbokoda Magisterial District did conspire together to commit an offence to wit contempt of court and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you Francis Ogundeji ‘M’ a farmer, (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas ‘M’ a pensioner, and others at large on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did disrespect the order of the court delivered on the 10th of April 2019 in Suit No. HOK/51/2018 by selling Ebute Ipare Ogunowo descendant land and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 133 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you Francis Ogundeji ‘M’ a farmer, (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas ‘M’ a pensioner, and others at large on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did forge the land receipt of Ebute Ipare Community Ogunowo descendant land by backdating the receipt of sales to read the month of November 2022 instead of April 16, 2017, knowing the same to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you Francis Ogundeji ‘M’ a farmer, (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas ‘M’ a pensioner, and others at large on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did disrespect the court order delivered on the 11th of September, 2018 in Suit No. MKD/3M/2018, which was presided over by His Worship E.A. Manuwa Magistrate Grade I, as then was on the rank, over the tussle of land committee of Ebute Ipare Community, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 133 (1 & 9) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”

The Magistrate, Mr. E.A. Manuwa, found Ogundeji and Thomas guilty of the offence in count three and sentenced them to three years imprisonment with the option of a fine of N150,000 each. But the court discharged and acquitted Thomas on community counts one, two, and four.

The magistrate ruled, “The first defendant, Ogundeji Francis, is hereby sentenced to three months imprisonment on count one or to pay the sum of N30,000.00 to the purse of the state government as a fine.

“The first defendant, Ogundeji Francis, was also sentenced to three months imprisonment or pay the sum of N30,000.00. The second defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted of the offence in count two.

“In count three, both the first and second defendants are sentenced to three years imprisonment each or pay a fine of N150,000.00 each to the purse of the state government.

“The first defendant, Ogundeji Francis, is also sentenced to only one month of imprisonment and to pay the sum of N30,000.00 to the purse of the state government. The second defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted of the offence in count four.”