Esa of Ayegunle-Ekiti: High Chief Joseph Olugola and 11 others cry for justice.
The Ekiti State Government has been called upon to prevail on the deposed Alayegunle of Ayegunle-Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area of the state, Oba Johnson Folorunso Aderiye to unconditionally withdraw criminal charges against the Esa of the community, High Chief Joseph Sunday Olugola, eleven (11) others and any other members of the community either at the police station or the court in compliance with its earlier advice on a communal crisis in Ayegunle-Ekiti as earlier communicated through a letter from the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Home Affairs that the deposed monarch should do this to pave way for peace to reign in the community.
The appeal which was made by two leaders of Ayegunle-Ekiti Leaders of Thought:Elder Gbenga Atibioke and Mr Segun Akinola after today’s sitting on the case in Ado-Ekiti said that their appeal was imperative as this would not only ensure justice and fairplay but heal the wounds of the past and engender peaceful coexistence, harmony and concord amongst members of the community which are essential ingredients for peace, progress, growth and development.
According to Mr Segun Akinola, no community can develop in an atmosphere of strife and disharmony hence the need for the Ekiti State Government to passionately urge the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice to expedite action on the advice of the State Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye who in one of her reconciliatary missions on the communal crisis has advised that all cases in the court and police stations be withdrawn for the sake of peace which the deposed Oba Johnson Folorunso Aderiye consented to.
It will be recalled that High Chief Joseph Sunday Olugola who is the Eisa of Ayegunle-Ekiti and 11 others were arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court One, Ado-Ekiti on criminal charges bordering on alleged attempted murder, malicious damage, unlawful assault, stealing and unlawful assembly which was a fallout of allegations of arrogant display of lawlessness, disrespect for tradition and individual rights of his subjects,high handedness levelled against the deposed Oba Johnson Folorunso Aderiye by the good people of Ayegunle-Ekiti community which led to his dethronement in 2024.
The case file has since been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for legal advice with no response so far which has largely been responsible for the number of adjournments that the case has suffered hence this appeal as the sword of justice can and must not be allowed to continue to dangle ad infinitum moreso that the Ekiti State Government through the Office of the Deputy Governor has waded into the matter for peace to reign in the community.
For High Chief Joseph Sunday Olugola and 11 co defendants standing trial on the case in question, justice delayed may turn out to be justice denied.
When the matter came up for hearing today, Tuesday January 22,2026 at the Chief Magistrate Court Ado-Ekiti, it was clearly stated that the nominal complainant of the case has not for once attended court on the matter.
After a careful consideration of the submissions of the learned counsel for the defendants who urged the court to strike out the case for want of diligent prosecution, the court ruled that the Ministry of Justice be served with a hearing notice of the case.
The case has been adjourned to Thursday,the 23rd day of April 2026.
Signed:
Aare Abiodun Alonge,
Telephone: 08066690649
January 22,2026.