An Ore Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ondo state on Friday sentenced a traditional ruler in the state to two years in prison over fraud-related charges.
Oba Pius Akinfesola Adewola, the Akamuja of Igburowo land in Odigbo LGA was sentenced by presiding Magistrate, O.J Adelegan over allegations of fraudulent conversion, and obtaining money under false pretense.
In delivering judgement, the Magistrate said the traditional ruler was a “conscienceless person who has no iota of regret indulging in such an opprobrious and despicable act”.
According to Vanguard, Oba Adewola was accused of short changing traditional chiefs in the community by refusing to pay them their entitlement in full after collecting same from the local government.
His community also accused him of engaging in brawl with his chiefs, illegal conversion of the community resources to personal use and writing of fictitious petitions and institution of several court cases against his subjects.
The state government went ahead to suspend him and directed him to stop parading himself as the Akamuja of Igburowo land.
He was arrested and detained by the police before he was subsequently arraigned in the court on thirty six count-charge of stealing, fraud, illegal conversion of the monthly salaries of his domestic workers and Chiefs, false declaration and impersonation.
He was sentenced two years in jail or N500,000 fine in each of the counts, which runs concurrently.