Izuchukwu Okosi
As Lawsuit To Make Another Candidate Monarch Exists
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Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has been advised not to use his good office and install a new Olubadan of Ibadanland as there is an existence of of a law suit involving Senator Lekan Balogun who is designated to be next in line to the stool and the state government.
This admonition is coming from Chief Michael Lana, an Ibadan-based lawyer with the MFL Chambers, who are also Real Estate consultants.
In a letter addressed to the governor; Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo (SAN), the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General and the state Ministry of Justice, on Monday in Ibadan, advised Makinde to tread softly following the pending suit.
Marked Suit No 22/2020 – HRM OBA (SENATOR) LEKAN BALOGUN & ORS v GOVERNOR OF OYO STATE & ORS, the letter read in part:
“Kindly note Your Excellency, that your predecessor in office, without thinking of the legal effects of his actions on the future of Ibadan traditional institution conferred the title of Obaship on some High Chiefs and Baales and gave them the right to wear beaded crowns and coronets in 2017.
“The action was challenged in Suit No M317/2017 – HIGH CHIEF RASHIDI LADOJA v THE GOVERNOR OF OF OYO STATE.
“The High Court per Aiki J, nullified the said conferrement which was actually a total contravention of both the Chiefs Law and the Ibadan Chieftancy Customary Law.
“However, the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/IB/99/2018 set aside the said judgement of Aiki on technical grounds without touching on the merit of the case and sent the case for retrial.
“Upon your Excellency’s assumption of office, it was resolved that the matter be settled amicably and same was settled through the instrumentality of a Terms of Settlement which became the judgement of the Court.”
Oba Saliu Adetunji who passed away on Sunday at the age 93-year-old at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan became the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan. He ascended the throne of his forefathers on March 4, 2016.
Lana stated that Balogun, expected to be the new Olubadan, went to court to upturn the consent judgment that set aside the gazettes which recognised High Chiefs and Baales as Obas in Ibadanland.
According to him, the administration of the late Chief Abiola Ajimobi in 2017 conferred the title of Obaship on some High Chiefs and Baales, “thereby disrupting the smooth chieftaincy elevation of Ibadanland”.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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