A High Court of Justice in Abeokuta Judicial Division has ruled in
favour of traditional ruler of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso as the
prescribed authority to take possession of the Ogboni House of Ilugun Oke-Ona
Egbaland, and also has the power to depose any chiefs in the community.
TRENDING METRO recalled that, six chiefs in the
community which include; Raufu Bankole, Jimoh Alabede, Oladejo Okesipe, Kamoru
Adeniran, Ishaq Soyinka and Ayinde Akintoye had dragged the monarch to court
challenging his authority over the issues among others.
This is coming just as Akinrogun of Oke-Ona Egba, Chief Taofeek
Lawal who was alleged by the claimants to have led other chiefs of the
community to break the door of the Ogboni House, debunked the claim, explaining
that the door was not forced open, as being speculated by the claimants.
TRENDING METRO authoritatively gathered that,
the claimants commenced this action by a writ of summons dated 30th
of May, 2014. The said writ of summons and the accompanying statement of claim
were subsequently amended with the leave of Honourable Court. By the said
amended writ of summons dated 23rd of December, 2016, the claimants
sought reliefs against the defendant
The claimants in case with suit number AB/151/2014 and writ of
summons prayed the court to declare that the royal father has no
authority to depose any of the chiefs, sought for order restraining the
defendant, his agents, and anybody acting on his behalf, that he has no
authority to lock or open the Ogboni House, order restraining any of his agents
to trespass on the Ogboni House and order of damages in the sum of N10million
for the unjustified closure of the Ogboni House.
The defence of the defendant as disclosed in his pleadings and
given in evidence by his witnesses was that the claimants have no authority to
institute this action. It was stated that the defendant is the prescribed
authority for Oke-Ona Egbaland and that as the custodian of the tradition of
Oke-Ona Egba, he has a stake in whatever is being done at Ogboni House and also
responsibility in the management of the affairs of the community, including the
Ogboni Traditional House.
The claimants were also alleged to have caused breakdown of order,
within Ilugun Ogboni Traditional House having being threatening fire, hail and
brimstone. Evidence was led to the effect that it was part of the defendant’s
reconciliation efforts to regularize the appointments of the claimants as
chiefs that led to the institution of this suit.
In his judgment, Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje said the claims
of the claimants totally lack in merit, and dismissed all prayers brought
before the court, and equally awarded cost of N25, 000.00 in favour of the
defendant.
"In the end result, I hold that this action is totally lacking in
merit. Consequently, an order is hereby made dismissing the claimants claim in
its entirety. I award cost of N25, 000.00 in favour of the defendant", Mabekoje
declared.
Meanwhile, Akinrogun of Oke-Ona Egba, Chief Taofeek Lawal who
admitted to be one of those chiefs, who opened the door of Ogboni House,
explaining further that the team was led by Balogun Ilugun, Barrister Raph
Oriade on the order of Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, who is the prescribed authority,
adding that the opening of the door was done in the presence of police and
other security agents.
"Those misleading the public about the opening of the Ogboni House
on the order of the prescribed authority of the community, were dissidents,
currently facing 8 count charge at magistrate court, Isabo, Abeokuta", he
stated.
Source: PENPUSHING ONLINE
Source: PENPUSHING ONLINE
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