Thursday, January 27, 2011


Court removes Oyo monarch

Agency Reporter


An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, on Wednesday deposed the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola.




http://odili.net/news/source/2011/jan/27/851.html


Adegbola was installed as the traditional ruler of the town in Ibarapa East Local Government Area of the state in 1998.

Deposing the monarch in his judgment, Justice Muktar Abimbola held that Adegbola was nominated for the stool by a faction of the Ajao Alapinni Family, saying that the action contravened the custom and chieftaincy declaration of the town.

The judge further restrained the state government, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and the local government authorities from recognising Adegbola as the town's traditional ruler.

Justice Abimbola also ordered the town's kingmakers to meet within seven days to produce the list of candidates to the stool which must include names of Alhaji Oyedepo Ajao and Joseph Oke.

The judge, who further held that there were two ruling houses in Eruwa: the Laribikusi and Akalako, said it was wrong for Adegbola to emerge as the town's traditional ruler since he belonged to the same ruling house, Akalako, with his predecessor, Oba Bolanle Olaniyan.

The court said he should have waited for the turn of his ruling house.

The plaintiffs, Mr. James Idowu and Ajao had challenged Adegbola's ascendancy and named the Governor of Oyo State, the state AG, Ibarapa LG, Adegbola, Chief Jacob Adewusi, Chief Femi Atanda, Chief Idowu Okeowo, Chief E. Ojebisi and Mr. Kasali I as co-defendant to the suit.

The court granted all the eight reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.

Justice Abimbola also resolved all the issues in favour of the plaintiffs.

Why are there two ruling houses?


Maybe it has to do with ensuring that there is always an heir.


Otherwise, whichever family was a ruling house first (whichever is oldest) should just be the one ruling and the younger house/family should just quit and settle for a lower title.