See Reasons Court Sentences Ondo Traditional Ruler and Pensioner
Francis Ogundeji, the Baale of Ebute Ipare in Ilaje Local Government Area, and pensioner Ikuejamoye Thomas have each been sentenced to three years in prison for violating a court order. The Chief Magistrates Court in Igbokoda, under Senior Magistrate E.A. Manuwa, convicted them of contempt and falsehood.
The charges stemmed from their involvement in selling community land in November 2022, despite a High Court injunction against such transactions. Both Ogundeji and Thomas were found guilty on the third count and received a three-year prison term, with an alternative to pay a fine of N150,000 each. Thomas was acquitted of the first, second, and fourth counts.
Magistrate Manuwa stated that Ogundeji would serve three months for the first count or pay a N30,000 fine, and an additional three months or a N30,000 fine for the second count. Thomas was acquitted of the second count. For the third count, both defendants face three years imprisonment or a N150,000 fine each, with the sentences to run consecutively.
