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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Egba Traditional Council under the chairmanship of Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has suspended the Olu of Owode, in Obafemi -Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Kolawole Sowemimo, for abusing naira notes.
Oba Sowemimo was seen in a viral video hanging a knitted N1000 notes on a popular Fuji musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, during the celebration of his 13th anniversary on the throne and 60th birthday of his wife.
The monarch’s action generated a lot of reactions on social media, with the Federal Government, through the National Orientation Agency (NOA) criticising the action of the monarch.
The traditional ruler, it was gathered, had since apologised to the Federal Government for his action.
However, a three-man Ethics Committee led by the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Saka Matemilola, found Oba Sowemimo guilty of abusing the naira notes on Friday, and recommended a three-month suspension without pay for the monarch.
The committee, in a resolution made available to newsmen, also directed the monarch not to attend any state function or parade himself as traditional ruler pending the expiration of the suspension.
The suspended monarch, Oba Sowemimo, confirmed the development, on Saturday.
“They said the suspension was due to the way I spent money on one musician.
“And when I was asked if I had anything to say, I stood up and apologised for whatever I had done wrong and the suspension which was earlier announced to be for three months without salaries was reduced to two months.
“I totally accept the verdict of the council because it is the person that we love that we chastise, so I am good with the decision,” he said.
The action of the suspended monarch was said to have contravened the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guidelines on naira notes.
