Ijesa monarch defends allegation of Corps member’s rape

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

OSOGBO — A traditional ruler in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, the Alowa of Ilowa-Ijesa, Oba Adebukola Alli standing trial over allegation of rape of a 23-year-old ex-member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, who served in his domain, yesterday told an Osogbo High Court of his readiness to open his defence against the charge.

Alli has been standing trial for allegedly having unlawful sexual intercourse with the Corps member, Miss Hellen Okpara, in his private residence in Osogbo, on 23rd March, 2010 when he allegedly asked the lady to accompany him to the state capital for a computer programme.

Justice Oyejide Falola of Osun State High Court recently ruled that the accused monarch, who had earlier revealed to the court that he made love to Okpara and that both of them enjoyed it, had a case to answer and that Alli should open his case for defence on the charge of rape leveled against him by his victim.

But the order apparently did not go down well with Alli who through his counsel, Mr. Taofeek Tewogbade filed a motion on notice for leave to appeal the judgment.

To this end, the prosecution counsels led by the Director of Public Prosecution in the state, Dapo Adeniji filed a notice of preliminary objection.

However, the case was then adjourned for hearing on the two applications but when the case was mentioned at the last sitting, after a long delay, Alli bowed to pressure when his lawyer informed the court of their intention to withdraw the motion for leave to appeal, thus opening their case for defence.

According to Tewogbade, “My Lord, I want to withdraw the application and proceed to defence.”

Meantime, a middle age hunter, Waheed Amzat has been arraigned by the Osun State Police Command for allegedly beating a police constable identified as Opeyemi Olowolagba while carrying out his legitimate duty.

Amzat, a local hunter in Osogbo, was accused of assaulting Olowolagba who came to his residence at Ota-Efun area in Osogbo at about 4p.m. on 28th November to arrest him (Amzat) following a complaint reported against the suspect by one Gbadebo Adewuyi.