A traditional ruler in Osun State, the Elegbedi of Egbedi in Egbedore Local Government Area of the state, Oba Muideen Azeez, has described allegations of robbery and arson against him as trumped up charges to discredit him.

The monarch was arraigned last week Wednesday alongside four others before a state High court sitting in Ede on 29 count-charges of robbery, arson, malicious damage, violence, and forceful entry.

The other defendants are Akibu Azeez, Yisa Surajudeen, Rasidi Ayandiran and Sarafadeen Abioye.

They were said to have conspired with others at large to have threatened violence to forcefully secure entry into Opeoluwa Integrated Farming Resources Ltd Farm area between Iloba and Egbedi on or about May 28, 2021, a farmland which was claimed to be owned by one Abiodun Oladapo.

Reacting to the allegations in an interview on Sunday, the traditional ruler who has been granted bail after pleading not guilty to the charges insisted that the charges were made up in order to tarnish his image and bring him to disrepute.

Oba Azeez who spoke through his lawyer, Adebukola Atobatele, disclosed that he had already instituted a matter against the Ilobas over the land dispute, saying the matter is still pending before the court when he was served with information on offences bordering on arson, robbery and malicious damage 9f property.

Arguing that the charges were spuriously fabricated and totally untrue, Atobatele said, “The Kabiesi, Elegbedi of Egbedi was docked on the 26th of June, 2024 after being served with information on offences bordering on arson, robbery and malicious damage of property. Kabiesi took his plea of not guilty and the case commenced. The prosecution called its witness, PW1, Oladapo, and he gave evidence. Suffice to say that the Kabiesi had instituted an action in the year 2018 against the Ilobas on the issue bordering on land because it was ownership of land dispute and the case is still before the court and has not been decided.

“So, the nominant complainant represented by the prosecution in this present criminal action is the successor in title of the Olobas and as such, fighting the war in proxy. We believe that as a law abiding citizen, Kabiesi has submitted himself to court and has proven that indeed, he is willing anytime to attend his trial. We have done the needful by having the cross-examination of PW1 and the court had adjourned for further hearing of the case. So, the Kabiesi is ready and the prosecution doesn’t need to delve into media trials because it has gone viral that Kabiesi was docked.”

According to him, “The prosecution in the case has a serious task in proving the guilt or offences preferred against Elegbedi of Egbedi land because the allegations are mere conjectures.”

The lawyer added, “Kabiesi is a respectable man and he is the man that will submit himself to law at any point in time and he had earlier approached the court for justice. So, he is known for that and he will not for any reason flout any order or course of law. They are just trumped up charges but we will not delve into the substance before the court. We will wait for justice to be done and have recourse back.

“We are ready for trial. Kabiesi has presented himself and he is a law abiding and respectable person. He is a monarch within the jurisdiction of the court and the court indeed took cognisance of this. We believe in justice and Kabiesi will be vindicated.”