A human rights activist in Nigeria and Executive Chairman, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman has declared that the respected Ooni of Ife stool should not be occupied by a questionable character like Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
It will be recalled that the group had earlier dragged the newly installed monarch, Oba(then Prince) Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi before the anti-graft body, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) for proper investigation over an allegation of N400 million fraud and obtained by false pretence which involved the immediate past Ooni of Ife, Late Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse 11 business empire.
Speaking on Monday‘s coronation and presentation of Staff of Office to Oba Ogunwusi in Ile-Ife, through a signed statement by Comrade Sulaiman, which a copy was made available to newsmen in Lagos, he averred that the character of Ogunwusi was still in question over an alleged fraudulent activities which the appropriate organs of government was yet to clear his (Ogunwusi) name before nominating him as the new monarch of the source.
The rights activist urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to allow the weighty allegation with ‘prime facie’ evidences against Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi to be swept under the carpet as no immunity in the law of the land,prevented any citizen from investigation and prosecution of criminal deeds accordingly, saying that the imposition of Oba Ogunwusi on the people of Ife with bad record of N400 million fraud was something to go by, which has sent wrong signal to the society that the new monarch was involved in fraudulent acts before becoming a king of the source of Yoruba race .
He also referred to his group (CHRSJ) Petition Letter dated Monday 16th November,2016 where it called on the Inspector General of Police(IGP) to arrest and commence immediate investigation into the alleged N400million fraud allegation leveled against the then Prince(now Oba) Ogunwusi, the new Ooni of Ife, explaining that Ooni stool is an important stool to Yoruba race and entire African people all over the world and anybody that would occupy such exalted position in the land, should be person of impeccable character and moral uprightness, stating that “if you are preaching equity, you must come with clean hand.
According to Sulaiman,”there is need for inculcation of moral value to our society through the palace in every community in the land and anybody that would occupy the position of traditional authority should come with integrity in order to serve as a good example to younger generation. Worshiping of money and world materials which is the basis of appointing Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, increase the social vices in the country today which makes the corruption to be on the increase geometrically.”
Although, CHRSJ had concluded arrangement to institute a legal action against the anti-graft body(EFCC) to compel it to perform its statutory duty if the Commission failed, refused and neglected to prosecute Prince(now Oba) Ogunwusi and his Company, Metropole Interproject Limited that used for the forgery offence which was contrary to the Chapter 43 section 463-465 and chapter 44 section 467 sub-section 1A&B(L.N.112 of 1964,1976 N0.27) , chapter 46 section 484-489, chapter 47, 48&49 section 490-494 of the Criminal code act CAP ‘C’:38 and EFCC act with cases and materials, Extras of ICPC &Money Laundering act 2010,law of the federation, Criminal code law with questions and answers for Police College, after seven days timeline of receiving the group’s petition letter.
The source revealed to the medium that the CHRSJ’s Petition Letter dated Monday 2nd November, 2015 entitled: “Request for Prosecution of Prince Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi and his Company named Metropole Interproject Limited for the Offence of forgery, Fraudulent Conversion and Obtaining the sum of N400million by false Pretence”, which was signed by the CHRSJ’s Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman and forwarded to the Chairman of the EFCC and a copy was also sent to the President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces, General Muhammadu Buhari(rtd).
It was also learnt that the anti-graft body received the CHRSJ’s Petition letter on the subject matter on Friday 6th of November, 2015 and copy of the petition was also forwarded to the Transparency International (TI) office and Embassies of the United Kingdom (UK), United State of America (USA) and Republic of Canada for their notification of the development, adding that the Petition letter was supported with the series of evidences, including the petition letter dated 7th September, 2015 which authored by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN),Mr. Rotimi Jacobs of the Rotimi Jacobs & Co Chambers, leveled N400million allegation against Prince(now Oba) Adeyeye Ogunwusi and his company.