The coordinator of an indigenous religion practitioners group, Isese Welfare Association, Aderemi Ifaoleepin Aderemi, has disclosed the reason why the association denounced Barrister Muftau Olobi, one of the counsel representing embattled traditionalist, Adegbola Abdulazeez, aka Tani Olohun, in court.
Adegbola was arrested on August 16 and remanded at a correctional facility in Ilorin, Kwara State, for allegedly insulting the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, among other offences.
In a statement dated October 11, 2023, the Isese Welfare Association denounced Olobi, adding that he was a practising Muslim who shuttled between Lagos and Kwara states.
This is coming days after Olobi released a public apology on behalf of Adegbola, addressed to the ‘Association of Proud Sons and Daughters of Ilorin Emirate’ and the ‘entire Muslim clerics and Muslim adherents worldwide,’ claiming the embattled traditionalist had repented and had been “purged of his exuberances.”
The apology letter dated October 9, 2023, read: “Furthermore, in furtherance of genuine intention, sobriety, clear, sincere and unequivocal apology of our client, he has formally mandated and instructed us to on his behalf write this letter of further personal apologies.
“With humility, we are making our reliance for the basis of this our letter on the provisions of the noble Holy Quran on forgiveness by commending you to the following provisions,” the letter read in part.
Reacting to the Olobi’s plea, the Isese Welfare Association released a press statement jointly signed by its coordinator, Adérẹ̀mí Ifáòleèpin Adérẹ̀mí and Secretary General, Ifágbénúṣọlá Popoola, denouncing Olobi.
The statement partly read: “We specially write on behalf of Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Community Worldwide to formally announce, publicly, that one Barr Mufutau Olufola Olobi is not a personal lawyer of our spiritual son, Abdul Azeez Adégbolá, aka Tani Ọlọhun, who is standing trial before the Magistrate and Upper Area Courts in Ìlọrin, Kwara State on the allegations of defamation of character and other charges.”
Speaking with our correspondent, Aderemi gave reasons why Olobi was denounced and sacked by the association.
He said: “He is a Muslim and has been fraternising with the petitioners; he does not have our best interest at heart.
“We hired him, and paid him N300,000. Even the money he got, some of us had to contribute N2000 just to raise that money. We do not have so many members; the few we have contributed to pay him.
“We do not believe he has Tani Olohun’s best interest at heart because if he did after the apology letter was sent out, even without our consent, somehow Adegbola was slammed with a fourth lawsuit, so what is the purpose of the apology?
“The association did not ask Olobi to write that apology letter. We did not consent to it”, they said.
On how the association met Olobi, Aderemi responded, saying a mutual friend of both parties who was an initiate introduced Olobi to the association.
“Barrister Banks is the one we recognise and accept, Olobi is not Adegbola’s lawyer anymore; he should stop parading himself as such,” Aderemi said.
PUNCH Online reached out to Olobi for his comment concerning the denouncement by the Isese association.
“Yes, the association asked that I stop representing Adegbola in court. They claimed my faith was the issue and that I was consorting with the alfas.
“We are all seeking his release. Adegbola asked me to write an apology letter. He wrote one, and I rewrote the letter for him.
“Tani Olohun’s family, his mother was who asked that I represent their son in court. However, I eventually stepped aside for personal reasons.
“On the claims of being drunk, that is far from the truth,” Olobi stated.
