The contenders, in the petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, frowned at the attitude of the state Commissioner of Police in handling the case, saying it might jeopardise the peace of the community.
The petition read: “It is disturbing that despite providing relevant pieces of information and documents concerning the Jegun Chieftaincy tussle in their community, the Commissioner of Police, rather than cautioning Prince Michael Adetoye Obatuga to desist from actions capable of undermining the existing peace in the community, gave his endorsement to his plans to disobey clear and subsisting declarations of the competent court.
“What is more worrisome is the fact that the Commissioner of Police further threatened that he would not hesitate to arrest our clients in case of any breach of peace in the community.
“We are indeed very surprised at these prejudicial stances of the Commissioner of Police, even as he, the Commissioner, maintained that he would carry out any directive of his former boss.
“It is on record that in the year 2005, the community was plunged into serious security risks and a breakdown of law and order on account of the attempt by Prince Michael Adetoye Obatuga and his stooges to carry out the function as an Oba in disobedience to the judgement of the court, leading to the murder of many, the destruction of properties, and various degrees of violence.
“Since the said incident, there have been warnings against similar events, such as the one Prince Michael Adetoye Obatuga and his stooges are planning in Idepe-Okitipupa.
“It is also on record that the government, as a preventive measure, set up a committee from the three warring groups while the community palace “Ogwa” was to remain closed with the Divisional Police Officer having the key. It is worth noting that the police were always involved in this development.
“We are constrained to say that the failure of the Commissioner of Police to caution Prince Michael Adetoye Obatuga and his stooges against the plan to celebrate what he termed 20 years of coronation is a sheer deviation from the initial arrangement and thus an invitation to serious crises and a breakdown of law and order.
“As ministers in the temple of justice, we wonder why the Commissioner of Police cannot advise Prince Michael Adetoye Obatuga to halt such a plan and allow the status quo to remain but rather gave him consent to further his sinister plan despite having his appeal against the Judgement which removed or restricted him and his application for a stay of execution dismissed with cost.
“This clearly shows partiality and bias by the Commissioner of Police.
“Our clients do not have any further confidence in the Commissioner of Police in the handling of the case, as it smacks of bias and naked partiality.”
