Ondo traditional ruler gets three-year jail term for land sale against court order

An Igbokoda chief magistrates’ court in Ondo state has sentenced Francis Ogundeji, the Baale of Ebute Ipare community in Ilaje LGA, to three years in prison.

E.A. Manuwa, the presiding judge, who delivered the judgment on Monday, sentenced the traditional ruler for violating a court order.

Ogundeji and Ikuejamoye Thomas, a pensioner, were charged with selling a plot of land in the community in November 2022 against a court prohibition and backdating the land sale receipt.

The charge sheet indicated that the convicts sold the property despite restraining orders from the magistrate’s court and a high court in the Okitipupa LGA of the state.

“That you, Francis Ogundeji ‘M,’ a farmer, (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas ‘M,’ a pensioner, and others at large, sometime in the month of November 2022 at about 12 pm at Ebute Ipare Community in the Igbokoda Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit an offence, to wit contempt of court, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006,” the charge sheet reads.

“That you, Francis Ogundeji ‘M,’ a farmer, (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas ‘M,’ a pensioner, and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did disrespect the order of the court delivered on the 10th of April 2019 in Suit No: HOK/51/2018 by selling Ebute Ipare Ogunowo descendant land and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 133 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you, Francis Ogundeji ‘M,’ a farmer, (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas ‘M,’ a pensioner, and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did forge the land receipt of Ebute Ipare Community Ogunowo descendant land by backdating the receipt of sales to read month of November 2022 instead of 16th April, 2017, knowing same to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

‘That you, Francis Ogundeji ‘M,’ a farmer, (2) Ikuejamoye Thomas ‘M,’ a pensioner, and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did disrespect the court order delivered on the 11th of September, 2018 in Suit No: MKD/3M/2018 which was presided over by His Worship E.A. Manuwa, Magistrate Grade I as then was on the rank, over the tussle of the land committee of Ebute Ipare Community and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 133 (1 & 9) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006”.

Manuwa found the defendants guilty on count three and sentenced them to three years in prison, with the option of N150,000 fine each.

However, the judge acquitted Thomas on counts one, two, and four and ruled that the Ogundeji’s prison terms will run consecutively.

“The first defendant, Ogundeji Francis, is hereby sentenced to three months imprisonment on count one or pay the sum of N30,000 to the purse of the state government as a fine,” the judgment reads.

“The first defendant, Ogundeji Francis, is also sentenced to three months imprisonment or pay the sum of N30,000. The second defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted of the offence in count two.

“In count three, both the first and second defendants are sentenced to three years imprisonment each or pay a fine of N150,000 each to the purse of the state government.

“The first defendant, Ogundeji Francis, is also sentenced to only three months imprisonment or pay the sum of N30,000 to the purse of the state government. The second defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted of the offence in count four.”