The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Clement Haastrup has secured the release of the Principal of Leventis Foundation Agricultural School, Ilesa, Dr. Muheeden Popoola, from prison custody.
Popoola was remanded last Thursday by Mrs. Shiyanbola of Ilesa Magistrate Court 4, following an allegation of trespass on a property purportedly belonging to the agricultural school.
In a statement posted on Facebook by the monarch on Friday, he reiterated his commitment to justice and the protection of Ijesaland’s assets.
‘My administration has a clear and unwavering policy against land grabbing in Ijesaland. We will not stand by and watch any individual or institution be unjustly treated, especially when it concerns properties vital to our community’s development, such as our educational institutions.
‘My priority is always the welfare and rights of my people and the institutions that serve them. We will ensure that justice prevails in this matter’, Oba Haastrup wrote.
The principal’s arrest was initiated by the State CID Osogbo, Osun State capital, acting on a complaint lodged by one Mrs. Adedigba concerning alleged trespass.
The disputed land is said to be part of the arable farmland managed by the Leventis Foundation Agricultural School, Ilesa.
Popoola was arrested, charged in court, and subsequently remanded in Ilesa Prison after he was unable to meet the stringent bail conditions on time.
These conditions included two sureties with N500,000 each, a landed property in Ilesa, three years of tax clearance, an electricity bill, and a National Identification Number.
The case was reportedly the final one heard by the court on Thursday before its adjournment.
Upon learning of the incident while in the United States of America, Oba Haastrup instructed prominent individuals within Ijesaland to facilitate the release of the detained principal, underscoring his personal interest and commitment to the matter.
This swift intervention aligns with Owa Obokun’s publicly declared stance against land grabbing.
He had previously emphasised his zero tolerance for such acts after receiving his certificate of installation and staff of office from Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Popoola’s release marks a significant development in the ongoing land dispute, highlighting the monarch’s active role in resolving community issues and upholding his anti-land-grabbing declaration.
