Court Remand 56-Year-Old Monarch Over Attempted Murd£r Charges
Court Remand 56-Year-Old Monarch Over Attempted Murder Charges
Sonola was arraigned alongside two other suspects identified as Dimeji Adigun Mustapha, 25, and Taoheed Sonola, 43.
AMagistrate Court in Mowe, Ogun State, has ordered the remand of a 56-year-old traditional ruler, Babatunde Akanni Sonola, over alleged cases of attempted murder in Makogi community, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.
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Sonola was arraigned alongside two other suspects identified as Dimeji Adigun Mustapha, 25, and Taoheed Sonola, 43.
The three defendants were slammed with four counts bordering on attempted murder and grievous bodily harm.
According to court documents, they allegedly attempted to kill Kehinde Owoseni, who reportedly sustained severe head injuries during the attack.
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They were also accused of attempting to murder Saheed Ojekunle, whose hand and leg were said to have been almost severed by machete cuts, as well as another victim, Afeez Kazeem.
A source told SaharaReporters that the traditional ruler was remanded in prison custody last Thursday, December 18, 2025, following his arraignment but later perfected his bail on Monday evening.
“The bail was granted on Monday, December 22, 2025. The conditions are that he was granted bail in the sum of ₦500,000 with two sureties, one of whom must be a second-class traditional ruler. He is also to maintain peace pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP),” the source said.
“Residents of Makogi appreciate the courage of the court so far and urge that justice must be allowed to take its full course. We want justice for the victims who nearly lost their lives.”
Community sources further alleged that Babatunde Sonola has a long-standing reputation for abusing his traditional position to unlawfully seize lands and intimidate residents, often with the help of suspected cultists.
Meanwhile, residents of Makogi community have called on the Ogun State Government and security agencies to closely monitor the case and ensure that justice is not compromised, regardless of the social status of those involved.
The case has been adjourned to February 23, 2026, for continuation of trial.
Residents of Makogi community in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State have repeatedly accused Babatunde Sonola, also known as Tallman, of unleashing violence and intimidation on the community through alleged use of cultists amid a long-running land dispute.
SaharaReporters reported on April 29, 2025, that the dispute stemmed from allegations that Sonola had been selling parcels of land that did not belong to him, including land claimed by the Osho Kanakana family, who insisted they were the rightful owners.
A family spokesperson, Taiwo Adewusi, said Sonola ignored repeated warnings and legal notices and continued selling the land, allegedly responding to opposition by deploying cultists to harass and attack family members.
Several residents told SaharaReporters of violent attacks, destruction of property, and threats to life allegedly carried out by cultists loyal to Sonola.
A tailor, Sunday Ojeyemi, said armed attackers raided his shop, destroyed equipment, and stole four industrial sewing machines worth hundreds of thousands of naira each.
He said his apprentices fled for safety and that he had since been unable to return home due to ongoing threats.
An elderly resident, Omotayo Kanakana, alleged that cultists destroyed her eight-room house, attacked her physically, and forced her and her children to flee the area.
Another community elder, Mulikatu Opasola, said her son’s shop was looted before attackers stormed her home at night, firing gunshots and forcing her to hide in the bush.
Victims identified several alleged cult figures operating in the area and claimed they acted on Sonola’s instructions.
WATCH: Ogun Court Remand 56-Year-Old Monarch, ‘Sonola’, Over Attempted Murder Charges pic.twitter.com/hveR2GMwfK
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) December 24, 2025
