The residents of Odo-Oja area of Ikere-Ekiti have appealed to the Federal Government to wade into the lingering crisis over the arrest and remand of Olukere of Ikere, Ganiyu Obasoyin before it gets escalated.
The residents made the appeal yesterday during the protest before the court session to demanding the immediate release of the Olukere at his palace located at Odo-Oja area of the town.
The residents claimed that Olukere is innocent of the killing. They described the allegation as a political move aimed to dent his image.
The residents marched round the sacred tree in the heart of the town where one of the High Chiefs of the town Folusho Olowolafe addressed them.
Olowolafe urged the residents to exercise patience noting that efforts are on top gear to ensure the release of the Olukere.
The protesters were mostly, traditional chiefs, community leaders of Odo-Oja, aged men and women who sang solidarity songs, bearing placards with various inscriptions.
A traditional Chief, Adeyemi Afolayan who is the Eselemo of Ikere-Ekiti, Dr. Michael Osundare and Mrs. Amusa Adepeju speaking concerning the situation expressed concerns over what they described as illegal detention of Olukere.
“The protest is in respect of the Olukere of Ikere, Ganiyu Obasoyin, who is currently in the custody in Ado-Ekiti over trump up charges against him, some of our children are there with him, and the people are not happy about it, they want him released with immediate effect,” Afolaya
Meanwhile, Olukere’ s trial suffer set back yesterday at Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital as the case adjourned to January 31 and to be determined at the state High Court on February 19. The Magistrate Court lacks jurisdiction for full trial.
