The Oyo State Government has suspended the Sobaloju of Ofiki, Atisbo Local Government, Chief Jacob Adefabi, over alleged illegal mining activities in the community.
A statement issued in Ibadan on Tuesday by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Print Media, Mr Moses Alao, said that Adefabi was suspended for allegedly violating the State’s Executive Order 001/2023, and for encouraging trespassing on government gazetted assets
The State’s Executive Order 001/2023 regulates mining activities in the state.
Adefabi was accused of violating the said order as well as allegedly issuing consent letters to mining companies without proper authorisation, permitting mining activities in state government’s reserved forest and facilitating unauthorised mining operations.
The statement said that the suspension of the chief was to protect the community and the interests of the state.
A letter by the Director, Chieftaincy Matters in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr A.M. Olajire, indicated that Adefabi had been suspended from the palace of the Onito of Ito effective Jan. 5, pending the outcome of investigation into the allegations.
It added that his suspension was a precautionary measure to ensure the integrity of the investigation.
The government directed the embattled Chief to refrain from all activities related to mining and not to interfere with the investigation into the allegations against him and to make himself available for inquiry by the investigating team.
