By Adeyinka Adeniran
An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan on Monday struck out a case instituted to challenge the selection and appointment of Oba Francis Alao as the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon.
The Claimants, Mr. Akintayo Charles Akintola, Mrs Olu Oyelade, Mrs Ladiran Olaniyi, Dr. Mrs Olajoke Bolade and Akinwale Akintola had in a suit filed before the Court in 2017 challenged the enthronement of the monarch as Olugbon of Orile-Igbon.
The Claimants in a 9-paragraph affidavit against the state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, the Commissioner for Local government and Chieftancy Matters, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Alao and others sought orders setting aside the letter of approval issued by the 1st defendant and/or appointment of the 6th defendant as Olugbon of Orile-Igbon pursuant to the 7th defendant unilateral selection and/or nomination without the Claimants” section of the Akinbola family
They also sort an order directing that the meeting of the five sections that made Akinbola family for the selection and/or nomination of candidate for Olugbon of Orile-Igbon Chieftancy be converted forthwith with a view to presenting a candidate for the appointment and/or approval by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendant as the new Olugbon of Orile-Igbon.
In addition, they sort an order for perpetual injunction restraining the defendants either themselves, their agents, servants and/or privies from recognizing, appointing, approving, installing, dealing with or doing anything with the defendants as the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon.
Having listened to the arguments of the Counsel to the Claimants and Defendants, Justice K.A. Adedokun in his ruling struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.
In a sideline interview, Counsel to the 6th and 7th defendants, Oba Alao, and Mogaji of Akinbola family, George Olayinka said, the Court has delivered its judgement. The Court has struck out the the case.
“We are happy with the development. We have conveyed our happiness to the Court. The verdict marks the end of the case especially at the trial court.
“We on the jurisdictional issue, we raised certain issue on the jurisdiction of the Court to entertain and determine issue.
“The Court agreed with us especially on the fact that Secretary of Surulere local government and the 6th defendant are not juridistic parties and the failure to actually sue the Surulere local government which is the competent authority to kickstart the process of the selection, nomination and approval of Olugbon Chieftancy which is the recognized Chieftancy in Oyo state under our Chiefs law was not sued.
“The Court also ruled on issue of locus standi that it did not have the requisite locus standi to adjudicate on the matter”
