The traditional ruler of the Iba community in Ojo, near Lagos, Oba Adeshina Raji, has debunked allegation that he was aiding and abetting cultism and other crime in the area.
Raji denied the allegations in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ojo on Friday, while reacting to what he described as baseless allegations that he was behind cult-related crimes in the area.
“My attention has been drawn to a malicious and vicious allegation targeted at denigrating my image and personality.
“I am a traditional ruler with high integrity and I have zero tolerance for nonsense, especially crimes.
Raji said that some unscrupulous people had been trying to tarnish his image, using social media, noting that he was not connected with a certain person being linked with criminal activities in Iba town.
“I am in no way connected to such a person. I am sure that the social media post is the handwriting of mischief makers and success haters, who are only good at brewing tensions and downgrading fellow humans.
“My hatred for criminality has sustained my initiative to improve security in my community, making me donate some items such as vehicles to track criminals in the Iba community.
“I have also single-handedly built a magistrates’ court in my community which I handed over to the Lagos State Government.
“So, if I am aiding and abetting criminals, would I have done all that? I am a king who loves peace and hates violence.”
Raji recalled that the allegation against him surfaced on February 12 on social media, where he was accused of using a cultist, identified simply as “Sholly’’ to commit crimes in Iba town.
The traditional ruler, who is also the Chairman of Parks and Garage Administrators in Lagos State, said that he would never support criminality.
He, however, pleaded with security agencies in Lagos State, including the State Security Service and the police to intervene in the matter to fish out the people involved in tarnishing his image.
“I am calling on all security agencies in the state to investigate these issues and fish out whoever is out there trying to dent my image as a traditional ruler.”
