Unlawful Arrest: Court Orders Ondo Monarch, CP Others, To Pay N2million To Hunters

An Ondo State High Court has ordered the monarch of Ile Oluji in
Ile Oluji Oke Igbo Local Government Area, Oba Julius Adetimẹhin,
the state Commissioner of Police and five others to pay a sum of
N2million to members of the Ujamas Professional Hunters over
unlawful arrest.

Other defendants in the case are: Mr. Sam Olawoyin (who was a
Divisional Police Officer of Ile Oluji Division), Mr Alayande
Joseph, Mr Omobamidele Omotayo , Chief Wale Fadare and Akinsooto
Samuel.

The hunters had challenged, in court, the arrest and detention
of some of their members, who were arrested during one of their
celebrations, by the police, allegedly on the orders of the
monarch.

According to them, after spending about five days in police
custody, the arrested hunters were charged to an Ondo State a
magistrate court sitting in Ondo town for disturbing the peace of
the community. The case was later referred to a Chief Magistrate
Court in Ilẹ-Oluji for trial.

It was gathered that the court however, struck out the case
against the hunters for lack of merit.

After getting favourable judgment from the court, the
association of hunters later sued the Ile Oluji monarch, the
police, and other defendants, at the state High Court, for illegal
detention and illegal interference.

After series of arguments from both the plaintiff’s counsel and
the defence counsel, the judge, Justice Peter Ikujuni declared that
the arrest and detention of the claimants were unlawful.

He asked the defendants to pay the sum of N2million to the
claimants as compensation for their unlawful arrest and their
detention instead of the N50million they demanded.

An Ondo State High Court has ordered the monarch of Ile Oluji in
Ile Oluji Oke Igbo Local Government Area, Oba Julius Adetimẹhin,
the state Commissioner of Police and five others to pay a sum of
N2million to members of the Ujamas Professional Hunters over
unlawful arrest.

Other defendants in the case are: Mr. Sam Olawoyin (who was a
Divisional Police Officer of Ile Oluji Division), Mr Alayande
Joseph, Mr Omobamidele Omotayo , Chief Wale Fadare and Akinsooto
Samuel.

The hunters had challenged, in court, the arrest and detention
of some of their members, who were arrested during one of their
celebrations, by the police, allegedly on the orders of the
monarch.

According to them, after spending about five days in police
custody, the arrested hunters were charged to an Ondo State a
magistrate court sitting in Ondo town for disturbing the peace of
the community. The case was later referred to a Chief Magistrate
Court in Ilẹ-Oluji for trial.

It was gathered that the court however, struck out the case
against the hunters for lack of merit.

After getting favourable judgment from the court, the
association of hunters later sued the Ile Oluji monarch, the
police, and other defendants, at the state High Court, for illegal
detention and illegal interference.

After series of arguments from both the plaintiff’s counsel and
the defence counsel, the judge, Justice Peter Ikujuni declared that
the arrest and detention of the claimants were unlawful.

He asked the defendants to pay the sum of N2million to the
claimants as compensation for their unlawful arrest and their
detention instead of the N50million they demanded.