Over a hundred years ago, before the integration of south and northern Nigeria protectorates, the Igbejo or Ugbejo Oralopo at Ita-Owa in Isinkan in present day Akure West LCDA hosted the Supreme Court of the ancient kingdom.
The court settled issues, especially those escalated by any member of the Uharefa, the then six highest-ranked High Chiefs of Isinkan.
The Court decided whether or not there was to be the death penalty and placed the condemned at a place called Imogun near the present site of the St. Thomas Anglican Church in Isinkan. Except in very rare cases, it was also at Imogun that the death sentence was executed.
One of the most prominent criminal cases tried in the Court of the Iralepo was the trial of Okpele Erebor, the Ezomo who raided Akure and nearby peripheral towns in 1818 on behalf of the Oba of Edo and murdered women and children at Ulafon where a relation of the Oba of Isinkan was the Baale (Olu). Imaran, a second man captured alongside the Ezomo, who played the role of a flutist during the Edo campaign, was also tried. The court however freed the second man and he it was that was saddled with the dark fortune of returning the severed head of the condemned to their homeland.
While Ezomo was executed at Elegboroko (Udiroko) in Isinkan after his failed attempt to escape justice by running towards Aledimoponyin, Imaran was freed.
The trial of the duo wherein the latter was freed because it was unlawful in Isinkan to hold artists, such as drummers and flutists, culpable for the crimes committed by warriors, attested to the sophistication of the Oba’s Court in ancient Isinkan and the level of social advancement inhere in the tradition and custom of the Isinkan people.
In the contemporary period, the Ita-Owa court of the Iralepo of Isinkan, Oba Oluwagbemiga Ajimokunola Olofin-Adimula (Arulewolasi III) situated on the same location as of ancient days is always a daily beehive of activities.
One thing that has caught the fancy of many residents and visitors is the amicable resolution of civil disputes as against the latitude to adjudicate in criminal matters enjoyed by Kabiyesi’s predecessors.
Just like the palace courtyard of the olden days, Oba Olofin-Adimula who is a lawyer is often surrounded by his chiefs at the courtyard of the Oba in Ita-Owa to welcome complainants.
The Isinkan Monarch and his chiefs attend to no fewer than five (5) cases on a daily basis, particularly between Tuesdays and Thursdays coinciding with the ancient period allocated for igbejo.
Oba Olofin-Adimula recently stated that “When I ascended the throne two years ago, I discovered that most of the residents dragged themselves to police stations on trivial matters or go to where they would be asked to pay through their noses. Some of those who have genuine cases could not get justice in court because of their inability to pay lawyers.”
“I remember that my father used to fairly attend to many cases in his courtyard. So, it became a big concern to me. The Iralepo-in-council then decided to wade-in and revive the tradition with more novel or modern approaches”
“You know, conflict is a constant feature in all human societies. Though the nature of these conflicts may vary but we are here to attend to them all. This is one of the reasons I was selected to lead the community.”
On remuneration, the Oba said “We attend to the cases without collecting a dime from them. Collecting remuneration from those involved in a dispute is actually a taboo in the palace.
The taboo might have been introduced by our ancestors to prevent the pervasion of the cause of justice.
“So, settling conflicts here is a duty. Though we no longer dabble into criminal matters as my predecessors in ancient times did” Oba Olofin-Adimula said.
The Secretary of Iralepo-in-Council and Asuda of Isinkan, Chief (Engr.) Olusanya Fatoki said “residents of Isinkan from Aladodo, Itaoniyan, Omu, Okeilero, Iyange to Aponmu among other places in Isinkan kingdom thronged this palace daily for conflict resolution.”
“In the last two years, we have settled more than 100 cases. These are cases that should have been burden to the police stations and various courts in the state capital. We have resolved them here to the satisfaction of parties involved.”
“We do it without asking anyone for money. We still have a lot of matters on-going just as people are bringing their matters here daily. Though hectic, it is a task that must be done” the Chief added.
Some of the people who have had their cases sorted out commended Oba Iralepo for his wisdom and bringing his wealth of experience as a legal practitioner to bear.
Mrs Emiloju Jaiyeoba, a beneficiary of the free court said the land issues in their family was handled with the fear of God.
“The family members were at one another’s throats before we came before Oba Iralepo but now we at peace with one another. On behalf of my family, I give kudos to Oba Olofin-Adimula and the Iralepo in council for taking their time to settle disputes here amicably and without tasking us.” Mrs Jaiyeoba said.
Eric Nwankwo, a trader in Isinkan who had previously had a matter settled in the court, said his issues with his co-tenant was handled without bias, without collecting money and now they are cohabiting peacefully.
It is worthy and cheering to realise that residents now see the palace of Iralepo of Isinkan as a place to get Justice without emptying their pockets.
