Wasiu Odiwole, has demanded justice after a traditional ruler, Nureni Oduwaye, allegedly kicked his eye at Moore Blessing Hotel, in Sagamu Local Government Arae of Igun State.
It was gathered that the monarch and his queen, alongside other guests, were said to have been invited by the celebrant, identified as Iya Alaje.
“So, I decided to manage the ingredients because the distance of the hotel to the market is far. We were serving the guests when the owner of the hotel and the celebrant approached me and said the guests were complaining that the pepper soup was not well-nourished.
“I told him it wasn’t my fault and that the ingredients were not enough. After I was done with the cooking, I went into the bar, met the owner of the hotel, the celebrant, Iya Alaje, her husband, and a woman, who I never knew was a queen. I started apologising to them and I was told not to worry.
“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.
The monarch 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.
Wasiu said: “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.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident, saying, “The area commander confirmed that the case was reported and that it had been investigated and concluded. He said the case should have been charged to court on Monday but the monarch said he was sick and came in the evening.”