How Emir of Ilorin Sent Me To Prison- Yoruba Oba of Jebba

In this interview, His Royal Majesty Oba Alabi Adebara, the Oba of Jebba, Kwara state reveals the deep-seated animosity between him and Emir of Ilorin, over the Obaship of the ancient Yoruba town.

Tell us about Jebba and its people

Jebba has been existing for a long time and we have been living peacefully with all people irrespective of race and religion. We thank God for the peaceful co-existence among all the tribes living in Jebba. Jebba is a Yoruba town and our mainstay is agriculture, fishing and trading.

What do you want the government to do for the people of Jebba?

We actually thank God for the government of the day, because they have good intention and programmes for us in Jebba. Among the things we want is portable water. And the government is working on it.

But one major thing that is paramount to the people of Jebba is my appointment as the Oba of Jebba. This government should expedite action on the process. This is what is topmost on the mind of the people of Jebba.

But what has been causing the delay up to this moment?

There is a reason because nothing happens by accident. Something must have caused it. If we go into the details, some big and powerful people might not be happy. But one thing I said after the court delivered judgement in my case some years ago is that only what God allows will be possible; If God disallows anything, it will be impossible.

As it is, some people want me to rot in jail, but God did not make me a prisoner, though I spent 19 days in prison. In fact, I was counted in the prison yard during the 2006 census. But God did a favour for me there too.

After two days of stay, they brought me the Holy Koran and I was able to “bring it down” twice while I was there in the prison, since those of us who are inmates have practically nothing to do, other than to take your day in court and come back. But for me, It was from the prison to the court and from court to Jebba.. So God gave me the time and chance to read the Koran

What exactly was the charge against you?

During those period, I used to go for medical check-up every month. I went for one on the 7th of March, 2006 at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. I came the next day. As I came back, and after about fifteen minutes, the DPO for Jebba came in to the palace to inform that I am being wanted at the police CID headquarters in Ilorin the next day between 9. 00 and 10.00 a.m.

So, the next day, I left with some of my chiefs who had hired a bus, while I went in a private car. The CID boss then was one Abdukadir Jimoh who is now the present CP in Cross River State.

Getting there, the CID boss said he wanted to see me alone and ordered my entourage out. Even when my lawyers came, he insisted he wanted to see me alone.

He thereafter brought out a document from his drawer and said the case is pure politics. He then asked me: Didn’t you beg the Emir of Ilorin?

I said yes, we have begged him, and listed some of the emissaries we had sent to beg him. Saadu Kawu was among the emissaries. Others include Grad Khadi Oriire, Chief Imam of Ilorin, Shehu Kamaldeen, a very prominent cleric and Justice Mustapha Akanbi.

He now said, didn’t you send Saraki to him to beg him? I said no, because the people in Saraki’s party here in Jebba were not prominent within the party. The CID boss added that the reason for all these questions is to find a way to help me out. He now called his second in command and instructed me to go and sit in his office.

After some time, one of my children came to inform me that food is ready and that I should come and eat, but the CID boss said I should instead eat the food in his presence. And when it was 2.00 p.m, the time for prayers, the same man came to call me for prayers, but the Police said he should instead bring the praying materials to his office. Then I was forced as to ask them: Am I under arrest? He simply smiled.

After some time, he now took me to another office – my people were now around now, and he told me that from their investigation, the stool of the Oba of Jebba is vacant, and that I have been parading myself as the Oba of Jebba, and so the offence is contrary to the law of the State.

The second offence is that I swore to a court affidavit to guarantee a lease of land to some people. I replied that the allegations were not true, but he insisted I should put the statement down in writing, adding that we are going to court that same day.

They then put me in a Station Wagon car. They were two policemen in front beside the driver with guns. I was put in the middle seat, sandwiched between two policemen holding guns, and at the back seat, there were three policemen with guns. There were a total of seven policemen with guns, escorting me to court. The lawyer who stood for me then was Barrister Jawondo, current Commissioner of Justice, before my lawyer arrived.

The court then ordered that I should be remanded in prison and that I should be brought to court at a later date.

So I was moved to prison, but one of the people I met there was the son of the elder brother of one of my teachers. He asked what happened and I explained everything to him. And since then, they detailed two inmates to attend to me. Even at night when I am on bed, the Comptroller while moving round, will call to check me to make sure that all was well. And most time during my stay, they will come and inform me that I have visitors. And if they bring food, I will take the little I can take and passed the remaining to the inmates. During the time for prayers, the Christian inmates will make room for the Muslims, and vice versa.

So, one day after the 2.00p.m prayers, some warders came to call me and said, Kabiesi, they have released you. I was overwhelmed with emotion. A lot of people were already outside the prison waiting. There was a convoy of more than ten cars waiting to take me back to Jebba – in a triumphant version, just like the day I was being enthroned as a king.

You said the CID boss said you didn’t beg the Emir of Ilorin. What exactly was the offence you need to beg him for?

He is in a better position to know my offence to him. But we gathered that the Emir is angry about my appointment as the Oba of Jebba. He is not happy about it. That is all. If there are other things, he should know.

The case was in court for eight years, moving from Magistrate Court through High Court to Appeal Court. It was before Honourable Justice Hannah Ajayi High Court that the case was decided in my favour, before the government decided to appeal against it after eight months, saying the DPP in charge of the case was available on the day of the judgement.

Culled from Kwara Chronicle