TWO prominent Mogajis in Ibadanland, Mogaji of Adanla and Akere families; Alhaji Chief Abdul-Jelili Karimu and Chief Moshood Akere, respecctively, have sued before High Court of Justice sitting in Ibadan, on Friday, the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; the Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and the 21 newly-promoted Chiefs and Baales in Ibadan, for promoting the chiefs without any consultation with the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
The claimants, in suit number I/1035/2017, approached the court the first defendnat, governor of Oyo State without regard to section 28 (1) of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State, promoted some chiefs and Baales in Ibadanland and whether the governor can ammend or replace the 1959 Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration.
Other defendants in the suit, according to the charge sheet, were the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Lekan Balogun; the Balogun of Ibadnaland, High Chief Akinloye Owolabi Olakuleyin; the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen a.Ajibola; Asipa Olubadan, High Chief Eddy Oyewole; the Asipa Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Latifu Gbadamosi Adebimpe; Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Abiodun Kola Daisi; the Ekarun Balogun of Ibadan, High Chief Dr Kolawole Adegbola; Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Amidu Ajibade.
Others were the Onijaye of Ijaye, Baale chief Laisisi Akano; Oniroko of Iroko, Baale Ismaila Abioye Olasunkanmi Opeola; Onikereku of Ikereku, Baale Moses Olasunkanmi Akinyosoye; Ololodo of Olodo, Baale Mudasiru Omodele Adebayo; Elegbeda of Egbeda, Baale Victor Sunday Okunola; Onido of Ido, Baale Gbolagade Muritala Babalola; Alakufo of Akufo, Baale Olabamiji Ahmed Thomas; Oloke of Okelade Okin, Baale Alhaji Wahab Olabamiji Okedina; Alawotan of Awotan, Baale Dauda Omotosho; Olofa of Ofa, Baale Adeboye Oyelowo Salako; Onilagun of Lagun, Baale Rafiu Alawusa; Alaba of Aba nla, Baale Tiamiyu Labiyi Ladipo and the Alakanran of Akanran, Baale James Oladipo Obisesan.
The claimants, in the 14 reliefs in claims before the court, seek an order setting aside the installation of the 21 coronated chiefs as beaded-crown-wearing Obas by the first defendant on Sunday, August 27 and an order of perpetual injunction restraning the 21 newly-crowned chiefs from parading themselves as beaded or crown-wearing obas in Ibadanland.
According to the application, the Mogajis alleged that the governor and other defendants erred in promoting and crowning of the chiefs with beaded crown as well as gazetting their promotion because they failed to toe the appriopriate channel to amend the declaration.
They also told the court that the Council of Chiefs and Obas empowered by the declaration had been on suspension and that the state governor did not consult with Oyo State Council of Obasa and Chiefs before taking that decision.
According to the relief, “there is no chieftaincy committee headed by a recognised chief that considered an amendment or replacement of 1959 Olubadan of Ibadan chieftaincy declaration before the first defendant amended the declaration.”
The claimants are praying the court on the determination of three questions: “whether the first defendant rightly and competently exercised his powers in accordance with the provisions of sections 28 (1) of the chiefs law cap 28 volume 1, Laws of Oyo State 2000 in purpotedly creating beaded crown-wearing Obas/ coronet crown wearing Obas in Ibadanland vide Oyo State government white paper on the judicial commission inquiry on the review of the existing Olubadan of Ibadan declaration and other related chieftaincies in Ibadnaland published in the Oyo State government gazeette No 14 volume 42, of August 23, 2017 and the amended declaration on regulating the selection to the Olubadan chgieftaincy and related matters, Oyo State government gazette No 15, volume 42; of August 24, 2017 in the absence of any consultation with the Oyo State council third of obas.
“Whether the third defendant (Olubadan of Ibadan) can act upon the unlawful order of the first defendant, the third defendant being a member of the Oyo State council of Obas and Chiefs, that the first defendant must statutorily consult with having regard to section 28 (1) of the Chiefs Law of Oyo state caps laws of Oyo State 2000.
“Whether having regards to the provisions of sections 5 and 10 of the chiefs law of Oyo state 2000, the first defendant can amend or replace the 1959 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration without a request by the first defendant for an amendment or replacement of the declaration being first made to the chieftaincy committee for the Olubadan chieftaincy in the local governments constituting Ibadanland which are statutorily prescribed to make the amendment or to make a new declaration for Olubadan chieftaincy.”
Their 14 reliefs summarised as follows were stated for determination if the declaration that the governor of Oyo State “acted unlawfully in purportedly creating beaded crown wearing Obas/coronet crown Obas in Ibadnaland and publishing same in Oyo State gazette no 14, volume 42 on Agust 23, 2017, tiled Olubadan of Ibadan declaration on regulating the selection to the Olubadan chieftaincy and related matters, Oyo state government gazette No 15, volume 42; of August 24, 2017, withour prior, consultation with the Oyo state council of Obas and chiefs, established by the councils of Obas and chiefs Law Cap 37 laws of Oyo state 2000 (as amended).
“a declaration that the amendment done to the 1959 Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration by the first defendnat not having originated from the Chieftaincy committee for local government council in Ibadanland is null and void same having not complied with section 5 and 10 of the chieftaincy law of Oyo state. A declaration that the amendment and the repalcement done to the 1959 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration by the first defendant not having complied with the provision of section 5 of the chieftaincy law which presrcibed that the chairman of the committee for an amendment of the chieftaincy declaration must be a recognised chief is null and void.
“An order of the honourable court setting aside the Oyo state government gazette No 14, Volume 42 on August 23, 2017 tiled Olubadan of Ibadan declaration and other related chieftaincy in Ibadan and the amended declaration on regulating the selection to the Olubadan chieftaincy and related matters, Oyo state government gazette No 15, Volume 42; of August 24 2017, other letters or instruments or other documents prepared by the first and second (Governor of Oyo state and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice) defendants in pursunace to the unlawful act of creating beaded crown wearing Obas/coronet wearing Obas in Ibadanland.
“An order restraining the third defendant (Olubadan of Ibadan) from reconising or further recognising the foruth to 24th defendants or any other person that the first defendant installed as beaded crown wearing/coronet crown wearing Oba on August 27, 2017 or on any other day/date or any other peron or person that may further be installed on any date as beaded crown wearing Obas/coronet crown wearing Obas in Ibadnaland, in furtherance of the unlawful exercise of the first defendnat’s power under section 28 (1) of the chief laws of Oyo state 2000.”