Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State – Residents of Araromi in Ijero Local Government Area have issued a fresh appeal to the Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, urging him to reject a request from the Ekiti State government to take over the prosecution of an ongoing court case against their monarch, Oba Babalola Adebomi.
Sternews NG reports that the case, which is currently before the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti, involves serious allegations of forgery related to academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) credentials agains the Monarch.
The residents, led by petitioners Taiwo Ayodeji and Fatoye Sunday, expressed their concerns during a press conference held on Thursday in Ado Ekiti, emphasising the potential ramifications of such a transfer. The ongoing case, referenced as PROSECUTION OF CHARGE NO: FHC/AK/16C/2024, is being prosecuted by the Inspector General of Police against Babalola Babatunde, who is accused of presenting forged documents to the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for employment in 2008.
According to the residents, the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice has sought to take over the case without the consent of the complainants, citing an outdated fiat from 2017. They argue that this move poses a threat to the integrity of the justice process and could lead to a miscarriage of justice.
“Transferring this case to the state would undermine the very foundation of our legal system,” said Taiwo Ayodeji. “We believe this is an attempt to shield the monarch from accountability. Justice must be blind, and we trust that the federal system will provide the impartiality this case requires.” Fatoye Sunday added, “We are not against justice; we are against any action that may allow the powerful to escape scrutiny. The people of Araromi demand transparency and fairness in this matter.”
The petitioners highlighted that the request for the takeover is currently pending at the desk of Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, who has yet to make a determination on the matter. The residents are urging him to uphold the integrity of the legal process and ensure that the case remains under federal jurisdiction.
“We call on the Attorney General to act swiftly and decisively, clarifying that the 2017 fiat cannot be used to legitimise this takeover,” said Fatoye Sunday. “Allowing such a transfer would set a dangerous precedent, where defendants could manipulate the system to evade justice.”
The residents of Araromi continue to rally support from the community and beyond as they seek to protect the legal proceedings against their monarch and ensure that justice is served without undue interference.
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