A trader in Ogun state, Wasiu Oduwole, has cried out for justice after he was allegedly kicked in the eye at the Moore Blessing Hotel, Ikenne, in the Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State by a traditional ruler who accused him of dancing with his queen during a birthday celebration at the hotel.
It was learnt that the monarch, his queen, alongside other guests, were invited by the celebrant, identified simply as Iya Alaje. Before the celebration commenced, Wasiu told Punch that the owner of the hotel, Yakub Omobolanle, contracted him to prepare 14 plates of catfish pepper soup for the guests. The celebration was ongoing when the monarch, Nureni Oduwaye, entered.
The deejay was playing and everyone was dancing. I was surprised as the celebrant and the queen were singing secular music. I commended them because people of their age and status don’t usually like secular music, let alone knowing the lyrics,” Wasiu said. The Ogun State indigene said suddenly, the monarch asked him to identify himself and he said he was the younger brother of the owner of the hotel.
He claimed that the Oduwaye angrily left for his car, adding that the hotel owner and the husband of the celebrant ran after him, but Iya Alaje’s husband returned and instructed him to apologise to the monarch. He explained.. “The queen was even asking what I did wrong but for the sake of peace, I went to apologise to him. When I got to where he was, I started begging him. I told him I was informed that he was annoyed because I was dancing with his queen and said I did not dance with her.
As I was attempting to lie down to continue begging, he used his leg to kick my left eye. The injury in my eye was so severe that I was rushed to a nearby hospital from where I was transferred to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital.
The monarch only checked on me once and as I am speaking to you, I can no longer see with my left eye. I am blind in my left eye. The case was reported at the Area Command, Sagamu, but nothing was done because the police refused to carry out an investigation. The incident happened on September 21, 2022; I want justice.”