A Magistrate Court, sitting in Osogbo, Osun State capital has ordered that the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi be physically present in court during the next adjourned date in a suit instituted against him by the Agbowu of Ogbaagba, Oba Dhikirulahi Akinropo over an alleged assault.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr Olusegun Ayilara pronounced that the respondent should personally appear in court during the next adjourned date of 3rd of April, 2020.

He stated that the suit was a quasi-criminal matter, which required the presence of the defendant (Oluwo) in court.

Mr Ayilara directed that the hearing notice should be pasted of the walls of residence of the respondent, while it should also be forwarded to Oluwo’s verifiable phone number.

Earlier, Counsel to Oba Akinropo, Mr Soji Oyetayo had urged the court to issue a bench warrant against Oba Akanbi for failing to appear in court.

According to him, the monarch has been duly served with the court process.

While arguing against the issue of bench warrant against his client, counsel to Oba Akanbi, Mr Tiamiyu Adegboyega argued that the application was served on the office of his client on Wednesday, while the monarch has not been personally briefed.

In his ruling, Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara said the court wanted to give the defendant (Oluwo) benefit of doubt, ordering that he should appear in court and adjourned the matter to 3rd of April, 2020.

Adenitan Akinola