Posted by By Kazeem Ugbodaga on
Officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs have arrested Mr. Mustapha Abayomi Apanishile, for parading himself as the Oba of Amuwo land.
Officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs have arrested Mr. Mustapha Abayomi Apanishile, for parading himself as the Oba of Amuwo land.
Apanishile, who was said to have installed himself as the Alamuwo of Kuje Amuwo three years ago, was arrested on Tuesday and detained at the taskforce office, Alausa.
P.M.News gathered that the self-installed Oba celebrated his third anniversary at the state primary school, Old Ojo Road, last Sunday. Five vehicles, loaded with government officials and mobile policemen, stormed his residence, at 11, Addy Street, Old Ojo Road, Mazamaza, and arrested him.
An official of the Ministry of Local Government told P.M.News that the arrest was made at night, so that Apanishile would have no chance of escaping, adding that he did not resist arrest. His security men were said to have surrendered to the government officials.
A statement from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, signed by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Kayode Suton, said Apanishile illegally installed himself as the Alamuwo of Kuje Amuwo.
The statement stated that he had been illegally parading himself as an Oba in the state, for the past three years. P.M.News gathered that Apanishile would soon be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, for further investigation.
It was gathered that the self-acclaimed Oba had, three years ago, won a legal tussle against the then Alamuwo of Kuje Amuwo, at the High Court in Lagos, over who should occupy the position.
After the court's ruling, he was said to have installed himself as the Oba the following day without going through the due process. Normally, the state government should have installed him and presented him with a staff of office.
P.M.News learnt that the then Alamuwo of Kuje Amuwo had gone to the Appeal Court to challenge the high court ruling. According to Suton, for Apanishile to have installed himself as the Oba contravened Cap. 2, Section 23 of the Laws of Lagos State, 2003.
Chairman, Lagos State Taskforce, Mr. Bayo Sulaiman, confirmed the arrest of Apanishile, though he directed P.M.News to obtain necessary information from the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Mr. Kunle Abass. It was learnt that arrangements had been concluded to prosecute Apanishile. If convicted, he faces a two-year imprisonment without an option of fine.