Iralepo palace clarifies Ondo court judgments, says Deji filed separate suit
By KEMI KASUMU
The palace consequently questioned why the Deji instituted another suit at the High Court if he believed the Court of Appeal judgment had conclusively settled the disputes concerning traditional authority in the area.
The Palace of the Iralepo of Isinkan, in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, has clarified the distinction between two court judgments involving the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, and the status of the Iralepo of Isinkan, Oba Oluwagbemiga Olofin-Adimula Arulewolasi III.
The palace, in a statement issued by the Olisa of Isinkan Kingdom, High Chief Kayode Oluyi, said the recent judgment of the Ondo State High Court reaffirming the Iralepo’s status as a recognised traditional ruler was different from an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/AK/69/2022, which has been appealed to the Supreme Court.
The statement said the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment on February 21, 2025, setting aside the judgment of the Ondo State High Court in Suit No. AK/111 M/2021, delivered by Justice Odusola on March 17, 2020.
According to the palace, the Deji of Akure, who instituted the earlier case at the High Court and subsequently appealed the decision, also filed another suit, Suit No. AK/434/2022, at the Ondo State High Court, Akure, while the appeal was pending.
It explained that the two cases involved different facts and causes of action and were considered concurrently.
Citing established judicial principles, the palace stated that court decisions must be interpreted within the context of the particular facts and circumstances of each case.
It quoted the principle that: “No case is identical to another, though they may be similar. Thus each case is only an authority for what it decides and not more.”
The palace consequently questioned why the Deji instituted another suit at the High Court if he believed the Court of Appeal judgment had conclusively settled the disputes concerning traditional authority in the area.
It further maintained that the Iralepo had never instituted any court case against the Deji, alleging that the legal battles over the years had been initiated by the Deji himself.
Palace cites historical records
The statement said the Isinkan traditional institution had consulted historical archives, libraries and colonial records to establish the relationship between the constituent communities and kingdoms in the old Akure District, which now comprises Akure North, Akure South and Ifedore local government areas.
It identified a judgment of the Akure Native Court, comprising Akure kingmakers and chiefs and presided over by Deji Adegunsoye Ademuwagun Adesida II, as a significant historical document.
According to the palace, the judgment affirmed that Isinkan predated Akure and outlined the extent of Isinkan land from Imogun, around the Saint Thomas Anglican Church end of Arakale, westwards along Ondo Road to the Aponmu and Owena rivers.
It said Justice Sunday Olorundahunsi’s recent judgment gave judicial recognition to these historical claims.
The palace also accused the Deji’s palace of making comments it considered misleading about the judgment, alleging that such statements were intended to raise false hopes among beneficiaries of what it described as the illegal sale and appropriation of Isinkan land.
The palace, however, maintained that the recent judgment represented a significant development for the Isinkan community.
