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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Police dismiss Osun monarch assassination attempt, arraign suspect

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • The Osun State Police Command stated that a suspect arrested at the Ataoja of Osogbo's palace did not attempt to assassinate the monarch.
  • Police investigations found no evidence of an assassination attempt, with the suspect admitting unlawful entry but denying harmful intentions.
  • The suspect, who allegedly scaled the palace fence, was arraigned for attempted felony and remanded in custody.

The Osun State Police Command has refuted claims that a recent incident at the Ataoja of Osogbo's palace involved an assassination attempt on the monarch. The command stated that preliminary investigations into the June 3 event found no evidence to support such allegations.

Upon a report received from the palace of Ataoja of Osogbo that one adult male later identified as Semilola Odunayo Monday ‘m’ a.k.a. Ankara, aged 26 years, scaled the fence of Ataoja’s palace, Osogbo and forcibly entered the palace, he was immediately challenged by some residents/domestic staff, but he could not give reasonable excuse. Instead, he took to his heels.

— Osun State Police CommandDescribing the suspect's actions upon entering the palace.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, a 26-year-old man identified as Semilola Monday, also known as “Ankara,” scaled the palace fence and entered unlawfully. He was challenged by residents and staff but fled. The suspect was apprehended after a pursuit, during which he sustained injuries and received treatment at a hospital.

Upon recovery, the suspect reportedly admitted to entering the palace without permission but denied any plan to harm the monarch or anyone else. He attributed his actions to excessive substance intake. A committee led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police confirmed that the suspect was not carrying any firearms or offensive weapons at the time of his arrest.

He admitted entering the palace premises through the fence. He stated further that he had no intention to assassinate or harm His Imperial Majesty or any other person. He attributed his conduct to excessive intake of substance.

— Osun State Police CommandRelaying the suspect's statement regarding his intentions.

Semilola Monday was subsequently arraigned before Magistrate Court II in Osogbo on June 8, facing a charge of attempted felony. He has been remanded in a correctional center pending further legal proceedings. The police are continuing their investigation and have appealed for any additional information from the public or palace officials.

The report from the committee reveals that the suspect was not in possession of a firearm or any offensive weapon at the time of his arrest.

— Osun State Police CommandConfirming the absence of weapons during the suspect's apprehension.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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