Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
Magistrate O. O. Adebo said the prosecutor failed to substantiate his case against Joachim Iroko and consequently struck out all charges preferred against him. Mr. Iroko’s lawyer was ecstatic, yesterday, praising the court for the verdict.
Mr. Iroko, 41, was arrested in August 2016 for causing a breach of peace after he was reported by his neighbour, for alleged insensitivity in Mr. Iroko’s action of naming his dog after the President.
The neighbour, identified as Haliru Umar from Sokoto State, said Mr. Iroko harboured sinister motives when he named his dog Buhari.
The arrest of Mr. Iroko sparked nationwide outrage in August 2016 and critics accused the police of stifling constitutionally guaranteed freedom.
The police denied that Mr. Iroko’s ordeal had anything to do with the president but strictly about the breach of peace complaints received from his neighbour.
The presidency also reacted to the arrest when Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said the president paid more attention to cartoon pages in the newspapers rather than following Mr. Iroko’s case that was generating nationwide furore at the time.
Speaking with Vanguard after the verdict, the suspect, Joachim Iroko said he has been vindicated.
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