An Okitipupa Magistrate Court has remanded nine persons including the ‘traditional ruler’ of the oil rich Ugbo-nla, in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State , Oba Mobolorunduro Ogunfeyinmi, in prison custody for alleged willful and unlawful damage to another person’s property.

Ogunfeyimi, who is the King of Zion, a sect of Church of Cherubim and Seraphim worldwide was also accused of parading himself as a traditional ruler contrary to the laws of the state.

Others remanded in prison custody alongside the King of Zion for alleged damage to the property of the Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan included Oluranti Ogunfeyimi, Ajimuda Daniel, Olatunji Mafimisebi, Gladius Omogbemi, Niyi Ogunfeyimi, Imole Ogunfeyimi, Isogun Ajodun, Gbadebo Olakanmi, Adewole Ajuwayo and Johnson Agbodu.

The accused persons were charged before the court of Chief Magistrate Agunbiade for alleged conspiracy and willful damage to the properties of the paramount ruler of Ugboland located in Ugbo-nla in the magisterial district.

It read “on the 25th day of February at about 1:30pm in Ugbo-nla in the Okitipupa Magistrate District did conspire with one another to commit misdemeanor to wit malicious damage and thereby commit an offence punishable under section 517 of the Criminal Code cap 30 vol 2 laws of Ondo State .”

The charges preferred against them also alleged that they “willfully and unlawfully damaged an alumaco glass door valued N120, 000, property of Oba Akinruntan,” the Olugbo and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 451(1) of the criminal code cap 30 vol 2 of the laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 1978.

Also, the monarch was accused of conducting himself in manner likely to cause the breach of peace by addressing himself as “His Royal Highness, Oba Dr Ogunfeyimi Henry of Ugbo-nla” and therefore committed an offence punishable under section 249 sub section of the criminal code cap 30 vol 2 laws of Ondo State .

Besides, they were accused of assaulting one Femi Enikumehin with fist blows and later injected him with substance believed to be poisonous and therefore committed an offence contrary to section 351 of the Criminal Code.

When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty to the charges and the court ordered that they should be remanded in prison custody till March 29 when the case would come up for hearing.