The deposition of Oba Babajide Oluwole, the state’s Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo in the Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government, has been ordered by the Ondo State High Court, which is located in Ondo Town.
The court revoked the traditional ruler’s appointment after admitting that Oba Oluwole, who was crowned as the community’s monarch in 2018, was not a member of the governing house, which was intended to replace the town’s vacant seat at the time.
Rufus Adekanye and Temitope Adeoye, Head and Secretary of the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House, respectively, have gone before the court to contest the enthronement of Oba Oluwole by the state government.
The action also included the kingmakers.
The claimants argued that the defendant was not a member of the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House, whose turn it was to offer a candidate to the throne, saying the stool is still vacant, in the lawsuit filed by their attorney, Mr Sola Ebiseni.
Oluwole was not a member of the reigning house, which in turn was to produce the king, and was also not entitled to be offered as a contender for the monarchy, the court acknowledged in a verdict by Justice Ademola Enikuemehin.
In the case submitted by their counsel, Mr. Sola Ebiseni, the claimants contended that the defendant was not a member of the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House, whose turn it was to present a candidate to the king, claiming the stool is still unoccupied.
Oluwole was not eligible to be given as a candidate for the throne and was not a member of the ruling family, which was to produce the king, the court admitted in a ruling by Justice Ademola Enikuemehin.
In the judgement, the judge ordered that “the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo Chieftaincy in the Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of Ondo State is subject to the Declaration in Part two of Justice Adeloye Judicial Commission Of Inquiry On Chieftaincy Matters and the Chiefs Law CAP 27 Volume 1 Laws of Ondo State 2006.
The judge said, “Under the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo Declaration contained in Part Two of Justice Adeloye Judicial Commission Of Inquiry On Chieftaincy Matters, eligibility to the throne is restricted to the descendants of (1) Odo Eleyowo (2) Aare Kugbaigbe (3) Kuole Oloje (4) Aderin Ologbenla (5) Ajibike Adedimeji of the male linage who is thus constituted as the five Ruling Houses of the Chieftaincy.
“Under and by virtue of the Oke-Igbo Declaration contained in Part Two of Justice Adeloye Judicial Commission Of Inquiry On Chieftaincy Matters, only members of the said Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House of the male linage are qualified to be proposed as the candidate(s) and be made an Oba at the turn of the Ruling House.
“Under the Olu-Oke of Oke- Igbo Declaration contained in Part Two of Justice Adeloye Judicial Commission Of Inquiry On Chieftaincy Matters, it is the turn of the Are Kugbaigbe Ruling House, to present candidate(s) to fill the now vacant stool of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo Chieftaincy.
“The fifth defendant (Oba Oluwole), not being a descendant of the Aare Kugbaigbe is not a member of the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House and therefore not qualified under the declaration to be proposed as a candidate for the vacant stool of or be made the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo.”
The court also gave an injunction restraining “the fifth defendant from or further parading himself or allowing himself to be paraded as or accorded the rights and privileges pertaining to the person, title and office of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo.
It restrained the defendants “jointly and severally from parading as or further according to the fifth defendant the recognition, rights and privileges, of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo.”
