…I’m the consenting Authority – Deji
… Iralepo is not under Akure Chieftaincy, You are a Busybody – Isinkan
…If Govt has Recognised an Oba, Acknowledge it – Akeredolu tells Obas
An Akure high court will tomorrow begin hearing in the case instituted by the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo challenging the installation of Oba Olugbemiga Adimula, Arulewolasi III as the 49th Oba of Isinkan and the 38th Iralepo on the Ora dynasty.
Though parties to the suit had appeared before the Akure high court twice, proper hearing of the suit begins tomorrow.
The Deji had dragged Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Sir Charles Titiloye, Oba Oluwagbemiga Adimula, Isinkan Kingmakers among others to the court.
Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo, the Lisa of Akure Land, High chief F.S Olubodun, the Sao of Akure, Chief M.A Adebayo, the Asamo of Akure, High Chief R.F Olusanya and the Ajana of Akure, High Chief O. Olalusi are claimants.
Speaking on the suit against the state government and others, the Chief Press Secretary to Oba Aladetoyinbo, Michael Adeyeye, said: “The Deji is just asking the court to interpret judgments of the Appeal and Supreme courts.
“The government had not officially recognised Iralepo, and we are aware of that, though there are some political moves by some individuals. So, it is just for the court to ensure that the judgment of the Appeal and the Supreme Court is upheld.
“We discovered that the Isikan people have suddenly turned themselves to court, interpreting the judgment. However, we don’t want to be confrontational, we must allow peace to reign. That is why Deji in his wisdom decided to avoid unnecessary crisis…” Adeyeye said
The Iralepo of Isikan, Oba Olugbenga Adimula has however asked the Court to dismiss the suit.
In the preliminary objection filed by the Iralepo of Isikan by his lawyer, Chief Olusola Ebiseeni said the court presided over by Justice Segun Odusola lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit filed by the traditional ruler of Akure saying he is a busybody in a matter relating to the chieftaincy of Isinkan.
Oba Adimula said Oba Aladelusi and his four kingmakers who are claimants in the suit did not have locus standi to file the suit as non of them is a native of Isinkan.
The preliminary objection said the claimants failed to fulfil the conditions precedent to filing the suit and that the suit discloses no reasonable or formidable cause of action.
Also, he said the suit is premature having been brought to annul the appointment of Oba Olugbenga Adimula to the recognised chieftaincy stool of Iralepo of Isinkan.
Besides, he said the suit is statute barred not having been brought within the time permitted by law and that the case is an abuse of court process.
Consequently, the Isinkan monarch asked the court to decline jurisdiction to hear, entertain or determine the suit for being incompetent.
In the deposition in support of the preliminary objection filed by the Elemo of Isikan, High Chief Olasehinde Abidakun, the Elemo said the Iralepo of Isinkan has always been traditionally recognized as an Oba by the people of Isinkan, even before the arrival of Asodeboyede, the progenitor of the Deji’s dynasty.
The Elemo stated that the Iralepo Chieftaincy is a recognized chieftaincy in Akure South Local Government area of Ondo State distinct from the Deji Chieftaincy. According to him, the Iralepo Chieftaincy has been recognized by the Executive Council of Ondo State saying the chieftaincy has no yet a registered declaration.
The Elemo affirmed that the Iralepo of Isinkan is not part of Akure chieftaincy structure but an independent and recognised chieftaincy which predated Akure in history.
Abidakun also added that none of the claimants is from Isikan community nor has any relationship whatsoever with the Iralepo of Isikan chieftaincy and that none of them is eligible to contest the throne of the Iralepo or have any say in the chieftaincy.
In the meantime, the Orginating Summons filed against the installation of Oba Olugbenga Ojo as the monarch of Isinkan, an autonomous community in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State has been struck out
When the case came up for hearing on Wednesday, 1st December, 2021, counsel to the Deji of Akure, Mr. Ekaete Udofot said the court should decline to hear only the preliminary objection, but should rather hear both the preliminary objection and the substantive matter in order not to waste the time of the court.
Also, he sought the permission of the court to amend the Originating Summons and the affidavit in support of it.
The crux of the amendment was to nullify the act of the government of 2005 which recognized Iralepo chieftaincy.
However, when Ebiseeni wanted to move his preliminary objection, Udofot sought the permission of the court to withdraw the amendments and affidavits to the originating summons.
Sequel to the withdrawal of the amendment, the presiding judge, Justice Odusola struck out the application for amendment and affidavits in support of the originating summons.
Consequently, the judge fixed the definite hearing of the preliminary objection and counter affidavit to tomorrow (December 15, 2021)
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has noted that the alarming rate at which some Obas and Traditional Rulers expand their jurisdiction was aggravating communal clashes in the State.
The governor who was represented at the 12th coronation of Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan by his deputy said “on behalf of Ondo State Government, I am appealing to our Obas and Traditional Rulers not to expand their area of authority beyond their domain”.
“Let’s all stay within our area of jurisdiction,..if a Traditional Ruler is elevated to be an Oba, let us acknowledge the new position of that Oba” , he pleaded.
“But, when an Oba or Traditional Ruler extends his authority beyond his domain, it has profound implications for our collective peace” .
“I’m pleading with all that, let’s have peace and harmony, let’s cooperate and collaborate so that peace will return to our respective areas.” Akeredolu said.