News

Osun Monarch Sent To Prison After Arrest At Court Premises

ByOlamilekan Adigun

PublishedMay 25, 2026

The Elegbedi of Egbedi, Oba Muideen Azeez, was arrested on Monday within the premises of the Osun State High Court sitting in Ede, following a bench warrant issued against him and one other person by Justice L.O. Arojo.

Oba Azeez had earlier appeared alongside four others in another matter before Justice Kudirat Akano on Monday.

The monarch, alongside Akeeb Azeez Abioye, Yisa Surajudeen Akolapo, Rasidi Ayandiran, and Sarafadeen Abioye were standing trial on offences bordering on arson and destruction of farm and crops worth N200m.

According to the details of the court, the defendants were alleged to had among others, on September 3, 2019, at a farm in Oloba within the Ede Judicial Division, while armed with firearms and offensive weapons, robbed Wasilatu Akinola and other women processing palm oil with her of about 70 kegs of palm oil, palm kernel, palm fruits, goats and other domestic animals valued at about N10m.

At the resumed hearing, the defence counsel, M.A Atobatele, who had earlier called three defence witnesses, called an additional four defence witnesses which included three police officers and the palace secretary.

However, drama ensued following the adjournment of the case as police officers from the Prompt Response Unit who had stationed themselves in front of the court arrested the monarch.

According to a court document obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, Justice Arojo issued the bench warrant against Oba Azeez and one Kabiru Raheem on May 18, 2026, after they failed to appear before the court on a case instituted against them by the state government.

In another document, the court ordered the police to arrest Oba Azeez and Raheem and convey them to Ilesa or Ife correctional centre, where they were to be kept until June 5, 2026, when they would be brought before Justice Arojo.

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“I can confirm that the defendants were duly represented by Mr M.A. Atobatele in court on the last date when they were also absent. There is no justification for their absence in court today. I therefore order a bench warrant against each of the two defendants, and they should be so brought before this honourable court on the next date. Each of the sureties is to show cause,” the court document partly read.

The state government, through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, had in suit no: HED/4C/2025, dragged Oba Azeez and Raheem to court over alleged forceful entry and malicious destruction of crops worth over ₦17,000,000 (Seventeen Million Naira) on a farmland in Iloba town.

One of the counts stated that the defendants forcefully entered and took over a farmland which was in the possession of one Raheem Adeleke Taofeek, and engaged quarry operators to extract sand and other materials, in the process destroying crops like cashew trees, cassava, maize, and others worth over ₦17,000,000 (Seventeen Million Naira).

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Oba Azeez was taken to Ife correctional facility following his arrest.

Confirming the arrest, the spokesperson of the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the “officers acted strictly based on court order. There was an arrest and remand warrant that had been issued.”

He added that the “monarch was arrested and remanded in Ile Ife correctional facility based on the court order.”

Olamilekan Adigun

Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.