Ladoja drags Makinde to court over Ibadan Obas

Chief Rashidi Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, has taken legal action against the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, regarding the recent promotion of 10 Ibadan High Chiefs to the status of Obas wearing beaded crowns.

In the lawsuit filed at the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, Ladoja has included the newly-elevated Obas as defendants as well.

As previously reported, on June 22, Governor Makinde approved the elevation of the Ibadan High Chiefs to Obas based on the recommendation of the Olubadan.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that the governor presented the Staff of Office to the new Obas last Friday.

The new Obas are Owolabi Olakulehin; Tajudeen Ajibola; Eddy Oyewole; Lateef Adebimpe; Biodun Kola-Daisi; Kola Adegbola; Hamidu Ajibade; Olubunmi Isioye; Bayo Akande and Abiodun Azeez.

Ladoja, who is also an Ibadan high chief, had earlier rejected the elevation and was absent from the crowning ceremony.

The former Oyo governor explained that he was only interested in becoming Olubadan.

“I’m not interested in any other crown apart from that of Olubadan of Ibadanland. And everyone of us knows that it’s God that chooses Oba in Ibadan,” he said.

Ladoja had previously been involved in a legal dispute with the late former governor Abiola Ajimobi, who, during his tenure, had also elevated certain chiefs and baales to the status of Obas in 2017.

Ladoja emerged victorious in the court case, which continued into Makinde’s first term as governor. However, Makinde decided not to appeal the case, and as a result, the high chiefs relinquished their crowns, clearing the path for the current Olubadan to assume the position.