Viral Assault Video: Falana Sues Suspended Ogun Monarch For N200m
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has filed a N200 million lawsuit against Oba Semiu Ogunjobi, the suspended Olorile of Orile Ifo, Ogun State, over the alleged assault of 73-year-old Elder Areola Abraham Love.
The lawsuit, dated March 7, 2025, was filed at the Ogun State High Court, Ota, seeking to enforce the victim’s fundamental rights to dignity, freedom of movement, and life.
The legal action follows a viral video in February showing the monarch and his aides repeatedly assaulting and humiliating Elder Love over an alleged chieftaincy dispute. In the footage, an aide was seen snatching the elderly man’s cap while another struck him from behind, despite his polite pleas to understand what he had done wrong.
The state government suspended Oba Ogunjobi for six months following the public outrage and later arraigned him for assault.
In his suit, Falana argued that the January 21, 2025, attack violated Elder Love’s fundamental rights as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
According to the originating notice of motion, Falana urged the court to declare:
“That the systematic beatings, kicking and striking of the applicant (Elder Love) by the respondent (Oba Ogunjobi) and his agents before a crowd of people at Orile Ifo, Ifo, Ogun State on January 21, 2025, constitute a threat to the life of the applicant and thereby violated his fundamental right to life guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
“That the slapping and punching of the head of the Applicant by the Respondent and his agents before a crowd of people at Orile Ifo, Ifo, Ogun State on January 21, 2025, constitute a cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and thereby violated the fundamental right of the Applicant to the dignity of his person guaranteed by Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Falana also requested the court to order:
“An order directing the Respondent to pay the sum of N200,000,000.00 (two hundred million Naira) to the Applicant for the violation of his fundamental rights to life, dignity, and freedom of movement.”
“An order directing the Respondent to publish an apology to the Applicant in the Punch, Vanguard, and Nigerian Tribune Newspapers.”
The case is expected to put further legal pressure on the embattled monarch as human rights advocates continue to demand justice for the elderly victim.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
