Orimedu Obaship tussle: stakeholders seek protection, accuse Muslim Folami of intimidation

The last hasn’t been heard of the ongoing tussle over who becomes the next Onimedu of Onimedu, a community in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government of Lagos.

The latest drama ensued following a placement of an advertisement by the Local Government for qualified families to send their list of contenders to the kingmakers within 14 days following  which the selection process will be perfected. 

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A source however told BlackBox Nigeria that the Lagos State commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami has also intensified his effort to ensure that his stooge, Ibrahim Akodu emerges the Oba.

According to aggrieved community members who have been in hiding following an alleged onslaught sued on them by thugs loyal to Akodu and Folami, the duo are desperate in achieving their aim and has vowed to go to any extent to get to this end. 

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BlackBox Nigeria had earlier reported that Akodu and Folami were before now accused of forging a official documents to back their claim to throne. One of such documents was the attendance register and minutes presented of a meeting that never held.

According to the document which was released to our correspondent, seven kingmakers attended the meeting to deliberate. They are ‘The Shashore of Orimedu, Olisa of Orimedu, Ashipa of Orimedu, Jagunmolu of Orimedu, Iwajoba of Orimedu, Eletu of Orimedu and the Apebi of Orimedu. 

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The alleged forgers however erred as the document reveal that the whole process was only forged because the Apebi of Orimedu, Chief Kazeem Fatai who was claimed to have attended the meeting actually died in July, 2018, three months before the King also died. Recall that the late king, Oba Amusa Atiku died in October 2018 while Chief Fatai Kazeem died in July of the same year. 

A community member further disclosed to our correspondent that the Secretary of the family, Falilu Akodu who allegedly doctored the document was reported to the police who sent a team of officers to effect his arrest. Before then, the Police investigating the matter had severally sent an invitation to the parties involved including Ibrahim Akodu.

“Ibrahim Akodo had dishonoured several invitations by the police for the allegations of the purported forged document containing several fake minutes of Eko quarters meetings to have adopted him,” a source disclosed. 

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BlackBox Nigeria was further informed that the team of policemen who came to Orimedu to arrest Falilu Akodu was waylaid and attacked by thugs loyal to Muslim Folami and Ibrahim Akodu who prevented them from whisking the suspect away.

One of the agitating youths who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity said the boys who attacked and molested the policemen were well known thugs in the community. He listed some of their names as are Okeleji Isiaka, Akodu Lai, Salami YEMI, Owolabi Osho and Azeez Owolabi. Others include; Akodu Mubinu, Akodu Akeem, Salami Samson, Salami Wasiu, Michael Tajudeen, Arabambi Kehinde and Akodu Mukaiba. They were said to have labelled the policemen kidnappers.

While the community has been given 30 days to produce an Oba-designate, the community is now in turmoil as interested parties have intensified their schemings. BlackBox Nigeria was reliably informed that the Olisa of Orimedu, Chief Rauf Alaka has been picked up on the orders of Muslim Folami who is “flexing all his powers to achieve his aim”.

BlackBox Nigeria cannot however ascertain if Chief Rauf Alaka has been released or still incarcerated.