An Ibadan-based attorney, Chief Michael Lana, advised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde not to rush the installation of a new Ibadanland Olubadan in light of the existence of a lawsuit involving Senator Lekan Balogun, the next in the line of succession. stool and the state government.
Lana, in a letter addressed to the governor; Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo (SAN), the state Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General and the state Ministry of Justice, on Monday in Ibadan advised Makinde to proceed carefully following the pending lawsuit.
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) recalls that 93-year-old Oba Saliu Adetunji, the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan, died at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on Sunday morning during illness.
NAN reports that Oba Adetunji ascended the throne of his ancestors on March 4, 2016.
Lana said Balogun, who was expected to be the new Olubadan, went to court to overturn the consent sentence that overturned the gazettes that recognized High Chiefs and Baals as Obas in Ibadanland.
According to him, the administration of the late Chief Abiola Ajimobi in 2017 granted the title of Obaship to some High Chiefs and Baals, “thus disrupting the smooth elevation of the headship of Ibadanland.”
Lana recalled that the rights granted to chiefs to wear crowns and bead crowns were contested by High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, thus the court annulled that concession.
“Consequently, the Court of Appeals, in Appeal No. CA / IB / 99/2018, annulled said judgment for technical reasons, returning it to the Superior Court for a new trial,” he said.
The attorney reminded Makinde that upon assuming his post as governor of the state, the matter was amicably resolved through the Terms of Settlement, which became the judgment of the court.
According to him, the High Chiefs and Baals instituted two separate trials to nullify the trial of consent, while at the same time clinging to the title of Obas.
This, he said, amounted to contempt of court.
Lana mentioned in particular that “one of the cases was instituted by Balogun in Lawsuit No. 1/22/2020-HRM OBA (SENATOR) LEKAN BALOGUN & ORS V OYO & ORS STATE GOVERNOR.”
He further explained that since the 1957 Olubadan Declaration of Leadership was not modified, therefore, it remained in force.
Under the statement, he said that no Oba could ascend to the throne of Olubadan.
“In other words, as long as the High Chiefs still clung to the title of Oba, they could not ascend to the throne.
“Any installation of any of them during the processing of that lawsuit is illegal, null and void,” he said.
According to him, the way forward will be for the caciques to withdraw the aforementioned cases or wait for the court to rule on them.
“If the court holds that they have the right to be Obas and the right to wear bead crowns, then they are perpetually prohibited from becoming another Oba.
“Nowhere in the Customary Law of any Yoruba people does an Oba rise to become another Oba.
“If, on the other hand, the court upholds the Terms of the Settlement and their Obaship title is illegal, then they are free to be elevated to the position of Olubadan,” Lana said.
However, the Justice Commissioner and the state Attorney General could not be reached for comment on the letter.
All efforts made by the Nigerian News Agency (NAN) correspondent to communicate with him via phone calls proved abortive.