The Ondo State Government has formally taken over the prosecution of a self-proclaimed monarch, Adekolajo Aladeseyi, and two chiefs, Fasore Lawrence and Adegbenro Akanle, over the illegal installation of the Olujare of the Ijare community in the Ifedore Local Council Area of Ondo State.

The move followed the decision by a Chief Magistrate Court to grant the trio bail, even as the prosecution disclosed that additional suspects had been arrested and are to be charged with the initial suspects allegedly involved in the illegal installation of Aladeseyi as monarch of the agrarian community.

The defendants were arraigned a few days ago before Chief Magistrate Jaiyeola Ogungade by the State Police Command for allegedly instigating unrest in Ijare, with their arraignment bordering on a three-count of conduct likely to breach public peace and violating the Ondo State Chiefs Law by purporting to install Aladeseyi as monarch without state approval.

According to Police Prosecutor Babatunde Ajiboye, the accused conspired on April 15, 2025, to install Aladeseyi during a clandestine 1:00 a.m. ceremony, flouting Sections 249(d) and 517(A) of the state’s Criminal Code and Section 15(1)(2) of the Chiefs Law.

With Ajiboye emphasizing that such installations require explicit approval from the Ondo State Executive Council of Chiefs, one of the charges read: “That you, Adekolajo Aladeseyi, Fasore Lawrence, Ajidahun, Adegbenro Akanle, and others at large on the same date, time, and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District did install or purport to install Adekolajo Aladeseyi as the Olujare of Ijare without the approval by the Ondo State Executive Council of Chiefs.”

With the accused persons pleading not guilty to the three-count charge preferred against them before the court, the lead counsel to the suspects, Mr. Adelanke Akinrata, asked the court to grant bail to them in liberal terms, stating the application is premised on Section 36 Sub 5 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

When the case came for ruling on Monday, the Magistrate granted bail to the accused in the sum of N1 million and sureties in like sum, with the sureties to produce tax clearance for three years, and they must be people of good character.

The temporary relief granted to the suspects was short-lived as the Deputy Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. E.T. Kolade-Obanijesu, said the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice has taken over the prosecution of the case.

Chief Magistrate Ogungade, however, granted the takeover of the case and adjourned the hearing to June 13.