I didn’t order police to arrest Punch reporter, says Ogun monarch

AbdulFatai Akamo, the Olu of Itori community in the Ewekoro LGA of Ogun state, has faulted reports that he ordered the arrest of a Punch newspaper reporter at his palace.

On February 26, Punch reported that Akamo instructed the police to apprehend and detain Bankole Taiwo, the newspaper’s correspondent in the state.

The alleged arrest was said to have followed Taiwo’s inquiry into a viral video in which Sanni Akeem, a physically challenged man, accused Akamo and Kayode Sodimu, another traditional ruler, of land grabbing.

However, in a statement on Monday, Akamo described the claim as spurious, saying he neither ordered the journalist’s detention nor took any action against him.

“I invited journalists from Abeokuta, the state capital, for a briefing to mark my 21st anniversary on the throne, which included gestures to an orphanage home and the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Abeokuta,” he said.

“After the event, the Punch reporter approached me privately with questions about a land matter in which I am not involved. I had already addressed a similar question during the briefing, but he insisted on an answer.

“I chose to ignore him and moved on to other matters.”

The monarch noted that he has maintained a cordial relationship with the media throughout his 21-year reign and expressed surprise at the publication.

“I find it strange that a journalist would publish such a misleading report about me. However, I understand that these things sometimes happen to public office holders,” he added.