Olumayowa Akogun‑Abudu,
the Labour Party chairmanship candidate for Ojo Local Government in the
upcoming Lagos State local government elections, has demanded a public apology
from the traditional ruler of Iba, Oba Sulaiman Raji Ashade, popularly known as
‘Jafo Authority’, over an alleged physical assault and intimidation.
Through his legal counsel, Sadik Usman, Akogun‑Abudu stated that the
monarch’s actions inflicted grievous damage on
him and his team.
The demand was issued in a formal letter, warning that failure to issue a public apology within seven days would prompt legal action before a competent court to seek redress and damages.
The letter emphasised that as “Ministers in the Temple of
Justice,” the legal team believes no one, including traditional rulers, is above
the law.
Copies of the letter were sent to the Lagos State
Governor, the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, the Chief Registrar of the Lagos
State Judiciary, the Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral
Commission (LASIEC), the Nigerian Bar Association Lagos Branch, and the
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Akogun‑Abudu
urged Oba Ashade to immediately cease any further threats, intimidation, or
interference in his political activities, reiterating that such actions would
not be tolerated in a democratic society.
The statement read, "We act as Solicitors to HON.
ABUDU AKINLOLA (0jo Local Government Chairmanship Candidate) hereinafter
referred to as Our Client and on whose firm instructions, we write this letter.
"It's our
brief that, Our Client being a legally screened and approved Chairmanship
Candidate via the Labour Party platform, in the forthcoming Lagos State local
governments election, has been a subject of serious threat, intimidation and
oppression.
"Our Client have reliably informed us with germane
evidences that on the 6" of July 2025, within the lba Town, that you the
Oniba of lba Town and your some of your loyalist, did attacked Our Client's
entourage during their lawful political campaign rally within the lba Town,
which you are the royal father to, thereby brutalised them, seize some of their
valuables, such as their camera, and other gadget used for the rally and as
well chased them from the Iba town.
"To greatest surprise of our client even after the
incident he still do use to face a whole lot of threats intimidation just
because he aspiring under the opposition party. With all due respect to Your
Royal Majesty, being legal oriented practitioner we find this acts as an
offence against the State, it's also unlawful, unethical and in breach of Our
Client's fundamental rights as enshrined in Chapter IV of the Constitution of
Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended."
Akogun‑Abudu
stated, "It's also in breach of Rule of Natural Justice Equity and Good
Conscience, it's therefore intolerable.
"We hereby, urge Your Royal Majesty to immediately
abstain from further threatening, intimidating, oppressing and intruding into
Our Client's political activities.
"Our Client is a respecter of rule of law, he Ãs
also an advocate of legality and also a respecter royalties. He as well
respect/honor you a lot and he as well sees you as a father.
"TAKE NOTICE that Our Client, is requesting for an
apology for the grievous damages caused to him and his entourage. Failure to
which we will be force to institute a legal action against you. This is because
as Ministers in the Temple of Justice, we believe nobody is above the law.
"It's on this note that Our Client contacted us and
we strongly believe that the above acts shouldn't repeat itself again.
"PLEASE NOTE that, failure to comply or reply to
this salient demand of ours within 7days from the day you receive this letter,
it will no doubt prompt us to institute a legal action against you before the
competent court of law, seeking remedies and damages against you."
Previously, SaharaReporters reported that the retired
soldier and Labour Party chairmanship candidate
for Ojo Local Government in the forthcoming local government elections in Lagos
State, Olumayowa Akogun‑Abudu,
accused the traditional ruler of Iba, Oba Sulaiman Raji Ashade,
popularly known as ‘Jafo Authority’, of leading a violent disruption of his
campaign convoy on Saturday evening.
In an interview on Sunday, Akogun‑Abudu told SaharaReporters
that the incident occurred at about 5:17 p.m.
when his campaign train attempted to enter Iba town—part of the Ojo Local Government Area—after rallies in other neighbourhoods.
“The king stopped us and said we could not campaign in
Iba because it is an APC town. He said we should not come and create problems.
I said how you allowed APC (All Progressives Congress) to campaign, but you
don’t want us to come into the town. So we decided to turn back,” the candidate
said
“While we tried to turn back, one of the cameramen was
trying to hail him, saying ‘Our king,’ he just hit the guy with the rod in his
hand, and the thugs with him collected the camera from the guy. Police officers
attached to the king did nothing.”
“The policemen with him were even the ones supporting the
king. It seems, somehow, that they are turning Nigeria into a one-party state,”
he added.
Akogun‑Abudu
named the alleged attackers as Oba Ashade,
his younger brother Jelili Ashade, and a palace
photographer identified only as “Smart.” He added that two other WhatsApp group
administrators who document his rallies were also harassed.
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