Defamation: Isese Group Calls For Change Of Counsel For Tani Olorun
The Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Community Worldwide has urged Barrister Mufutau Olobi, initially hired as counsel for Abdulazeez Adegbola, also known as Tani Olohun in the case of defamation at the Kwara State Magistrates Court, to withdraw from the case.
The group raised concerns about Olobi’s ability to effectively defend Tani Olorun in a statement jointly signed on Thursday, by its Coordinator and Secretary General of Isese Community worldwide, Adérẹ̀mí Ifáòleèpin and Ifágbénúṣọlá Popoola respectively, titled, “Denunciation of Barr. Mufutau Olufola Olobi as a Counsel to Tani Ọlọhun”.
The group said that it took the stand as it did not believe that the lawyer would get justice for the defendant if he continued to represent him in the case.
Recall that Tani Olohun was facing charges of defamation in two separate Courts in Ilorin, Kwara state capital.
Tani Olorun was standing trial on five count charges of alleged Criminal Conspiracy, inciting Public disturbance, Disturbance of Public Peace, Criminal defamation of character, and intentional insult before a Kwara Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin while he and one Chief Ademola Olawoore, Oluwo Nla of Tede were also jointly charged for similar offence at the Kwara Upper Area Court sitting in the same jurisdiction.
The offence according to the prosecution was contrary to sections 97, 210, 392, and 114 of the penal code law of Nigeria.
Tani Olohun pleaded not guilty to the offence in the two Courts and while the Upper Area Court admitted him to bail, the Magistrate Court Presided by Chief Magistrate Mohammed Ibrahim refused to admit him to bail.
However, the Isese group which said that it engaged the service of Olobi for Tani Olohun stated that the lawyer should step aside from the case.
“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.
“It should be noted that, this Barr. Mufu Olobi is a practicing Muslim said to be an indigene of Offa, but residing in Lagos and shuttling between Lagos and Ìlọrin, Kwara State was hired on behalf of the larger Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Community Worldwide by the local Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Community in Kwara State on the day Tani Ọlọhun was arraigned at the Magistrate Court, Ilorin by the Police, and he was paid the total sum of #300,000.00 as his Appearance Fee before he appeared in the courtroom.
“It was on that same day that he was disengaged and clearly told that his service was no longer required. This was based on the premises of his unethical actions; it was observed that he was hobnobbing with the complainants and other Islamic clerics and Muslim leaders in Ilorin, Kwara State at the expense of his so-called client.
“But, to our greatest surprise, he has refused to stop parading himself as a Lawyer to Tani Ọlọhun, and he always used his connections in higher places to visit Tani Ọlọhun in Correctional Center in Ilorin and exploiting his present predicament and circumstances to manipulate the young man and also become a confusionist in the Legal Team of Tani Ọlọhun being ably led by the Lead Counsel in the person of Barr Ademola Banks.”
The group also attached a letter of Apology dated October 9, 2023, written on behalf of Tani Olohun which was addressed to the Association of True Sons and Daughters of Ilorin Emirate (Ogo Ilorin) and the entire Muslim Clerics and Adherents worldwide by the lawyer out of the knowledge of the Isese community adding that no one sent him to write such letter.
Olobi in his reaction, said that he was a personal lawyer to Tani Olorun, adding that he was begged to write the apology letter by Tani Olohun’s mother with the consent of her son who is the defendant in the case.
The Counsel said that he had earlier stepped aside from the case, stating that his main concern was the release of Tani Olohun from prison custody within a short time.
“I have for some time stepped aside from the case due to divergent views which I would not want to go into as it will certainly not help the cause of justice but impede the progress of the release of Abdulazeez Adegbola from the correctional center. The letter written by me to Ogo Ilorin and some revered Muslim Clerics was authorised by both the family members of Abdulazeez Adegbola in person.
“My humble appeal to everybody connected to the matter should please let us join forces to enable us to achieve the much-desired objective. This is not a time for us to be trading words if we truly love Abdulazeez Adegbola a.k.a Talolohun.
“At this juncture, it’s imperative for me to praise the doggedness, commitment and tenacity of purpose the Isése adherents have been pursuing the cause of justice for Abdulazeez Adegbola. I must not but equally appreciate the entire Muslim ummah especially our Royal father, Emir of Ilorin and the revered Clerics for the understanding and cooperation recently extended in giving the family of Abdulazeez Adegbola a listening ear”, he pleaded.
