Bolanle Funmilayo-Obaseki, an Ogun State resident, has got the police to arrest Alani Obayomi and Gbenga Odulore, fellow community members, for ‘threat to life’ in a campaign her neighbours have described as deliberate harassment.
The background to Funmilayo-Obaseki’s harassment of residents in Yakoyo Community began with a chieftancy title dispute among the community’s royal families after the former Baálẹ̀ died. Subsequently, one Isiaka Azeez showed up to claim he had been crowned Baálẹ̀.
Azeez, in connection with Olofin Bamigbade of Isheri, then began to forcefully lay claim to the land in Yakoyo. They connived with Funmilayo-Obaseki, a resident of Yakoyo herself, to fight against other residents of the community.
READ MORE: Ogun Resident Bolanle Funmilayo-Obaseki Ignores Ongoing Lawsuit, Uses Police to Harass Neighbours
At a point, the land dispute was filed in a court, but Funmilayo-Obaseki would not stop harassing her neighbours with police invitations and arrests.
This time around, she has got two Yakoyo residents arrested by the Alagbon Police for the same accusations of threat to life she repeated in the past.
Around 7 am on Thursday, Funmilayo-Obaseki arrested Alani Obayomi and Gbenga Odulore. Both have been charged in a Lagos Magistrate Court.
Jide Olaniran, the Public Relations Officer of Yakoyo CDA, told FIJ that the frequent harassment and accusations from Funmilayo-Obaseki were to frustrate the community and discourage them as they pursue the ongoing land case in court.
“The case is already in court, but they are still not satisfied because they want to still be intimidating the community. That is why they are using that woman and the police,” Olaniran had earlier said.
“Meanwhile, when the elders go there (police stations), they would need to pay lawyers. At times, they would need to bribe the police, they would pay bail. They keep wasting money.
“There are still some of these frivolous cases pending in the High Court, Ojodu, the Magistrate Court, Ojodu, and the High Court, Ifo. Now the latest one is in Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.
“Alani Obayomi is the recognised Baale while Gbenga Odulore is a CDA leader.”
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In the five-count charge filed against Obayomi and Odulore, the allegations were felony, physical assault, vandalism and threat to life.
“That you, Chief Alani Obayomi ‘M’, Gbenga Odulore ‘M’ and others now at large between the 28th day of July, 2024 and the 12th day of January 2025 at Grammar School Area of Ojodu Berger, Lagos State within the magisterial district of this Honourable Court did assault Mrs. Funmilayo Obaseki by beating her with sticks which inflicted injuries on her neck and her both hands and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 172 of the criminal law of Lagos State,” one of the charges read.
The accused have been granted a N1 million bail with two sureties each, while the case has been adjourned for August 29.
Before the first story went live on July 22, FIJ had called Funmilayo-Obaseki on July 14 but she refused to comment. She promised to send her media representative’s contact instead, but she never did.
The post Ogun Resident Bolanle Funmilayo-Obaseki Uses Police to Harass, Arrest 2 More Neighbours appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.