Ondo Monarch Sentenced to Three Years for Court Contempt
An Ondo State Chief Magistrates’ Court in Igbokoda has sentenced Francis Ogundeji, the Baale of Ebute Ipare Community in Ilaje Local Government Area, to three years in prison for defying a court order.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the judgement, delivered by Senior Magistrate E.A. Manuwa, was issued earlier in the week but was made public on Thursday.
Ogundeji, along with one Ikuejamoye Thomas, faced charges for selling land in their community in November 2022, despite a restraining order issued by both a state High Court in Okitipupa and a magistrates’ court in Igbokoda.
The courts had prohibited any transactions involving the disputed land, but the duo allegedly ignored the directive and proceeded with the sale.
In addition to contempt of court, the two men were accused of falsifying documents by backdating the receipt of the land sale.
They were charged with four counts, including contempt of court and forgery. The charges were read to them in English and translated into Yoruba to ensure understanding.
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The charge sheet outlined the accusations, stating that both men conspired to disrespect the court’s orders and engaged in the illegal sale of land.
Specifically, the charge sheet highlighted that the receipt for the land sale had been forged to reflect a date of November 2022, instead of the actual date of April 16, 2017.
Senior Magistrate Manuwa found both men guilty on count three, sentencing them to three years in prison with an option to pay a fine of N150,000 each. However, Thomas was acquitted of the charges in counts one, two, and four.
The court’s ruling also stipulated that Ogundeji would serve additional sentences for other counts, which could be substituted with fines.
The terms of imprisonment for Ogundeji are to run consecutively, meaning he would serve each sentence one after the other.
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