IRALEPO STOOL: Akure, Isinkan, Gov Akeredolu begin defence of claims before High Court tomorrow

*I’m the consenting authority – Deji

*Iralepo not under Akure chieftaincy, you are a busybody – Isinkan

*If government has recognised an Oba, acknowledge it, Akeredolu tells Ondo Obas

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has noted that the alarming rate at which some Obas and Traditional Rulers expand their jurisdiction was aggravating communal clashes in the state.

An Akure High Court will, Wednesday 15 December, 2021, begin hearing in the case instituted by the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, challenging the installation of Oba Olugbega Ojo 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 court twice, proper hearing of the suit begins Wednesday.

The Deji had dragged the Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Sir Charles Titiloye, Oba Olugbenga Adimula, Isinkan kingmakers, among others, to the court.

Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, 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 in the case.

Speaking on the suit against the state government and others, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deji of Akure, 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 Isinkan 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 Isinkan, Oba Olugbenga Adimula has, however, asked the court to dismiss the Deji’s suit.

In the preliminary objection filed by the Iralepo of Isinkan by his lawyer, Chief Olusola Ebiseeni, it was said that 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 none 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 Isinkan, 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 Isinkan community nor has any relationship whatsoever with the Iralepo of Isinkan 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, 1 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 Wednesday 15 December, 2021.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), 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.