An Oyo State High Court has dismissed the suit challenging
the consent judgment that nullified the promotion of Ibadan High Chiefs as Obas
under the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi led government in the state.
The judgement cleared the coast for the appointment of Lekan
Balogun as the new Olubadan of Ibadan.
Controversies had surrounded the nomination, appointment,
approval, and announcement of Oba Lekan Balogun, who is the next in line to the
throne, as the new Olubadan.
In a bid for Lekan to be appointed, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, asked the kingmakers to discontinue the case.
The High Chiefs – promoted Obas – were in court to challenge
the consent judgment which set aside the gazette that recognised them as Obas.
Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola, gave the
verdict at a sitting at Court One of the Oyo State High Court, according to
Radio Nigeria.
Recall thaton Monday, Lekan Balogun and other members of the
Olubadan-in-Council who were crowned Obas in 2017 wrote to their lawyer, Kunle
Sobaloju, to withdraw their case challenging a consent judgment on their
elevation from high chiefs to Obaship status.
While dismissing the case, Justice Abimbola explained that
the withdrawal of the suit by the High Chiefs indicated termination of all
litigations on the case.
The Chief Judge explained further that the Olubadan
Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957 remained valid and any contrary declaration
should be disregarded.
Background
Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, had
sued former Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the inquiry commission that recommended
the high chiefs for crowning the high chiefs, arguing that they violated the
1957 Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration.
Ladoja won at the state High Court as Justice Olajumoke Aiki
set aside the gazette as well as the decisions made based on it.
But dissatisfied with the judgment, Ajimobi appealed.
The Appellate Court, in its decision, set aside Aiki’s
decision on technical grounds and directed a retrial of the case.
Makinde, who inherited the case, called for an out-of-court
settlement and a return to the status quo.
The terms of the settlement were entered as consent judgment
by the court, putting a closure on the matter.
But Balogun and others later expressed displeasure and filed
a fresh suit against the judgment.
If not for the just-dismissed case, a new Olubadan should
have been named after Oba Saliu Adetunji passed away on January 2, 2022.
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