A bench warrant has been issued against the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Akanbi by a Magistrate court in Osogbo, the capital of Osun state.

The Punch reports that the decision of the court followed the monarch’s refusal to appear in a matter instituted by the Oluwo
of Iwo Oke, Oba Kadiri Adeoye.

The monarch was reportedly dragged to court on some criminal allegations.

The report said Oba Akanbi was represented in court on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 by his counsel, Mr Olaide Yekeen, but the presiding magistrate Olusola Aluko issued the bench
warrant despite three applications, one for stay of proceeding; the other for a notice of preliminary objection and the third for a notice of appeal filed before the court.

It was learnt that at the last hearing of the case on December 2, the magistrate threatened to issue a bench warrant against the monarch if he refused to appear in court on Tuesday.

Yekeen had told the court that his client had several applications before it. He also argued that the notice of preliminary objection bordered on competence and jurisdiction of the court and should
be heard first before the substantive application.

But Soji Oyetayo, the applicant’s counsel, told the court that it made an order which the Oluwo had refused to complied with.

In his ruling, the magistrate agreed with the respondent based on the issue of jurisdiction adding that the notice of appeal was not ripe.

“The court mandated the first respondent to appear in court.“He has violated the court order of the last adjourned date. I
hereby issue a bench warrant against him,” the magistrate said.

Naij