Magistrate Court in Akure Orders Arrest of Suspect in Property Dispute
Ondo Court Remands Suspect for Alleged Contempt in Akure Land Dispute
A magistrate court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has ordered the arrest and detention of a suspect over alleged contempt of court linked to an ongoing land dispute.
The court issued the directive after the suspect, identified as Oba Adewale Sunday Boboye, reportedly failed to honour repeated court summons related to the case. The proceedings stem from allegations involving a disputed parcel of land in the Igoba area along Igoba–Akure Road.
Court records indicate that the dispute centres on claims that the suspect forcefully entered a property belonging to Olrof Nigeria Limited and allegedly caused damage to assets on the site.
Allegations Surrounding the Property Dispute
According to the charge filed before the court, the incident triggered legal action after the complainant accused the defendant of unlawfully entering the company’s land and damaging property on the premises.
The matter was filed under Charge No: MAK/AMC/486/2025, prompting the court to issue a summons requesting the suspect to appear and respond to the allegations.
However, court documents show that the defendant failed to appear during the initial hearing and reportedly ignored subsequent invitations to attend proceedings.
Court Invokes Criminal Justice Law
During the latest court sitting, Senior Magistrate D.S. Sekoni invoked Section 118 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Ondo State, which allows courts to compel the appearance of individuals who fail to comply with lawful summons in criminal proceedings.
Based on the provisions of the law, the magistrate ordered the suspect’s arrest and detention pending his appearance before the court.
Following the directive, the suspect was reportedly taken into custody and is currently being held at the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 17.
Legal Representation and Proceedings
At the court session, I.O. Osobu appeared as the prosecutor representing the state, while A.R. Omidougha served as counsel for the defendant. Kehinde Aladedutire appeared on behalf of the nominal complainant in the dispute.
Sources familiar with the proceedings also indicated that the suspect had previously faced legal action over a similar matter, though details of the earlier case were not immediately disclosed during the hearing.
Next Court Hearing Scheduled
The court adjourned the case to 18 March 2026, when the suspect is expected to be formally arraigned and the charges read before the court.
Legal experts note that failure to comply with court summons can trigger contempt proceedings, including arrest warrants and additional penalties beyond the original charges.
Outlook
Land disputes remain a persistent issue in several Nigerian states, often arising from competing ownership claims, documentation conflicts, and unauthorised land occupation.
As the Akure case progresses, the court will determine whether the allegations surrounding the disputed property and the alleged contempt of court can be substantiated through evidence presented during the trial.
