Oba Babajide Lawrence Oluwole, the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo in the Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government of Ondo State has been deposed by the High Court of Ondo State holding at Ondo.
In the judgment delivered on Thursday, 13th April 2023, by His Lordship, Justice Ademola Enikuemehin, in Suit N0. HOD/80/2018 filed by Princes Rufus Adekanye and TemitopeAdeoye Head and Secretary respectively of and on behalf of the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House against the Ondo State Government, Babajide Lawrence Oluwole and the Oke-Igbo Kingmakers, the Claimants, through their Counsel, Chief Sola Ebiseni, challenged the appointment of Oba Oluwole claiming he is not a member of the Aare Kugbaigbe which turn it is to present candidate to the throne which they said is still vacant.
According to the 37 page judgment, the Oba who was appointed in 2018 was the 5th Defendant in the suit. Concluding the courtheld:
“Accordingly, the claim succeeds and I hereby order as follows:
1. A DECLARATION that the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo Chieftaincy in the Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of Ondo State is subject to theDeclaration in Part Two of Justice Adeloye Judicial Commission Of Inquiry On Chieftaincy Matters and the Chiefs Law CAP 27 Volume 1 Laws of Ondo State 2006.
2. A DECLARATION that under the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo Declaration contained in Part Two of Justice Adeloye Judicial Commission Of Inquiry On Chieftaincy Matters, eligibility to the throne is restricted to the descendants of (1) Odo Eleyowo (2) Are Kugbaigbe (3) Kuole Oloje (4) AderinOlogbenla (5) Ajibike Adedimeji of the male linage who are thus constituted as the five Ruling Houses of the Chieftaincy.
3. A DECLARATION that under and by virtue of the Oke-Igbo Declaration contained in Part Two of Justice Adeloye Judicial Commission Of Inquiry On Chieftaincy Matters, only members of the said Are Kugbaigbe Ruling House of the male linage are qualified to be proposed as candidate(s) and be made an Oba at the turn of the Ruling House.
4. A DECLARATION that under the Olu-Oke of Oke- Igbo Declaration contained in Part Two of Justice Adeloye Judicial Commission Of Inquiry On Chieftaincy Matters, it is the turn of the Are Kugbaigbe Ruling House, to present candidate(s) to fill the now vacant stool of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo Chieftaincy.
5. A DECALRATION that the 5th Defendant not being a descendant of the Are Kugbaigbe is not a member of the Are Kugbaigbe Ruling House andtherefore not qualified under the Declaration to be proposed as a candidate for the vacant stool of or be made the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo.
6. A DECLARATION that the selection, appointment and approval of the appointment of the 5th Defendant as the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo, by the Defendants being contrary to the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo, Declaration further to the Chiefs Law CAP 27 Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State 2006, is illegal, arbitrary, irregular, null and void, rendering the stool vacant still.
7. An ORDER directing the Defendants to set in motion the proper processes of selection and appointment by inviting the Claimants to present candidate(s) to fill the vacant stool of the Olu-Okeof Oke-Igbo chieftaincy in accordance with theDeclaration and the Chiefs Law of Ondo State.
8. AN ORDER setting aside and nullifying, the selection, appointment and approval of the appointment and other processes cumulating in the purported appointment of the 5th Defendant as the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo.
9. AN INJUNCTION restraining the 5th Defendant from or further parading himself or allowing himself to be paraded as or accorded the rights and privileges pertaining to the person, title and office of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo.
10 AN INJUNCTION restraining the Defendants jointly and severally from parading as or further according the 5th Defendant the recognition, rights and privileges, of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo.