Ooni Refutes SaharaReporters Unfounded Claim Over The Arrest Of A Tricycle Rider By DSS

-Doyinsola Johnson

SaharaReporters had insinuated in its publication on Tuesday 11 August 2020 that the foremost Yoruba monarch, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) the Ooni of Ile-Ife instructed the DSS to arrest a tricycle rider.

The publication titled “DSS Detains Tricycle Rider In Osun State On Orders Of Ooni Of Ife Over Text Message” was purportedly a one sided report purportedly tipped by an unreliable source named Ifemosu Michael Adewale with the twitter handle @ifemosumichael who alleged that Ooni had ordered the arrest of one Lawal Moshood.

TellAfrica having contacted the relevant authority who accosted the suspect in their line of duty, was reliably informed that the named suspect had allegedly being impersonating the prestigious monarch, thereby using his name to commit multiple crimes.

The Chief Press Officer at the Palace of Ooni, Olafare Yera Moses had also in an extensive press briefing on Tuesday responded to the unsubstantiated allegations levelled against the prestigious stool of Oduduwa.

See excerpts from press briefing below;

“We find it disheartening that some online media practitioners have adamantly chosen to practice journalism without adherence to simple principle of investigation which allows fair hearing.”

“You will notice that some women and ladies have been defrauded by some people claiming to be Ooni, promising their victims marriage.”

“On the part of the DSS, they began their investigation without any order from Ooni of Ife’s palace and somebody was arrested in Ijebu Ode. In the course of their investigation, they discovered that the arrested suspect, Lawal Moshood had opened Facebook accounts in the name of the Ooni. There was even a recent case of a woman who sold her properties in the United States of America based on an online scammer, who impersonated the Ooni, promising to marry the woman.”

“The Ooni of Ife does not have the constitutional power to order the arrest of anybody. The case of Moshood Lawal is between him and the DSS that arrested him. The security agency acted on a tip off and trailed him to Ijebu Ode, where he was arrested. What the DSS is doing about his case, we don’t know. It is just pitiable and laughable that some journalists, who should by their expected level of education know the limits of power of any traditional ruler in the internal security management of Nigeria would now be spreading falsehood that Ooni ordered arrest of a tricycle rider.”

“Where does the Ooni get the power to order the arrest of anybody? . The only thing Ooni can do is to make official report to the security agents who are constitutionally empowered to initiate investigations where the need arises.”

“The report by Saharareporters is a vivid example of jungle journalism, with the ultimate agenda to blackmail and mislead the public. But, their mission had failed because no amount of blackmail and mischief can overwhelm the integrity, respect, love, mass appeal, local and international recognition enjoy by the Ooni of Ife, most especially among the youth.”

Ooni of Ife is not only a promoter of the youth in Nigeria, but also dedicates most of his socio-economic programmes and projects, running into billions of naira to the upliftment and emancipation of the nation’s youths”, Olafare concluded.

We hope that this will serve as a possible deterrent to criminals in the act of impersonating among others just as we hope that journalist in discharging their duties be fair in their reporting.

“However, we note that Lawal’s alleged offence is bail-able and as such, his bail is attainable and not negotiable once he fulfills what the law requires of him in this regard” our correspondent S’Teller gathered.

Stay safe……

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