IRALEPO VS DEJI OF AKURE CHIEFTAINCY TUSSLE: Isinkan heads to Supreme Court
By KEMI KASUMU
Speaking to newsmen at the end of the judgment, the lead counsel for the Iralepo of Isinkan, Chief Sola Ebiseni, said “the judgment has not affected the stool of Iralepo and the incumbent.”
The Iralepo of Isinkan, His Royal Majesty Oba Oluwagbemiga Ojo Olofin-Adimula, has filed notice of appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, praying the apex court to upturn the judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital.
The Court of Appeal had last week declared that the government of Ondo State “cannot admit the Chieftaincy title of Iralepo of Isinkan into Part 1 of the Chiefs Law of Ondo State without the concurrence, agreement and consent of the Deji of Akure”.
The judgment, which was said not to be ready by Justice Fadawu Umaru who read the summary of the orders in the absence of the other two members of the court, further restrained the respondents, the Ondo State Government, from admitting and appointing the Iralepo of Isinkan under Part 1 without the consent of the Deji of Akure”.
The judgment arose from the appeal filed by the Deji of Akure against the judgment of Justice A. O Odusola (now Chief Judge) of Ondo State, which recognized the elevation of the Iralepo stool earlier made by the Government of late Dr. Olusegun Agagu in 2005 and appointed Oba Olufunmilayo Ojo as the Iralepo of Isinkan in Akure South Local Government.
Oba Olufunmilayo, the then Iralepo of Isinkan, joined his ancestors in 2021. The Government of late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, thereafter, appointed his son, Oluwagbemiga Ojo, the incumbent Iralepo of Isinkan, the same year against which appointment the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, appealed.
Speaking to newsmen at the end of the judgment, the lead counsel for the Iralepo of Isinkan, Chief Sola Ebiseni, said “the judgment has not affected the stool of Iralepo and the incumbent.
“The stool of Iralepo of Isinkan exists from time immemorial and in perpetuity and the incumbent duly appointed by his people. He remains the Iralepo while the controversy whether the Ondo State Government requires the consent of any traditional ruler to upgrade another under the Chiefs Law will finally be put to rest by the Supreme Court”.
The judgment has generated so much tension within the state capital.
Speaking at his inauguration thanksgiving over the weekend, the Ondo State Governor, Honourable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, sued for peace noting that “the matter remains in litigation until every party has exhausted the rights of appeal to the Supreme Court”.
The process later made available to newsmen shows that the Isinkan community has appealed the judgment to the Supreme Court.
See snapped documents below for details:
