A Lagos State Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Oshodi has remanded one Musiliu Awoga, also known as Ajingolo, in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) over allegations of impersonation and forgery.
The defendant, who was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Jimoh Adefioye, was accused of impersonating the Orijeru of Igbooye Kingdom in Epe and forging a ruling from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The court ordered that Awoga be kept behind bars along with three others: Olamilekan Awoga, Hassan Adefala, and Moses Awoga, after they pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The defendants are facing a 13-count charge of forgery, impersonation, breach of peace, and assaulting police officers brought against them by the Lagos State government.
The prosecutor, Ola Adekunle, had earlier informed the court that the defendants, along with others still at large, conspired to commit the alleged offences on June 14, 2025, at their residence in Eredo, Epe, Lagos.
Adekunle claimed that the defendants forged a Supreme Court ruling in case SC/CV/969/2020, the letterhead of the Eredo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), and the signature of the LCDA Chairman, Ismail Akinloye.
The prosecutor further informed the court that Musiliu Awoga impersonated the Igbooye monarch, Oba AbdulRasak Musa, by referring to himself as the Orijeru Igbooyee and the Awujale of Ijebu-Eko, a title he does not hold.
He also alleged that the first defendant wore a beaded crown and held a beaded staff of office, claiming the title of Oba Orijeru of Igbooye.
The prosecutor further accused the defendant of printing a banner depicting him in a beaded crown with a beaded staff and distributing invitation cards in which he referred to himself as the Oba-elect, Orijeru of Igbooye, Awujale of Ijebu-Eko.
Adekunle maintained that the offences are contrary to Section 34 of the Obas and Chieftaincy Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Following their pleas, the prosecutors notified the court that the state’s Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had instructed that the case file be forwarded for legal advice, as the investigation was still ongoing.
He also urged the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services pending legal advice.
Chief Magistrate Adefioye granted the request and also adjourned the matter to September 8 for the presentation of the DPP advice.
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