Disaster: Ruling homes subject warning to Ondo LG to respect court docket’s order

Four ruling houses in the Ode Erinje community of Ondo State’s Okitipupa Local Government Area have urged the state’s acting governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to intervene in the kingship dispute there because some local officials are allegedly attempting to impose a monarch on the residents of the town.

The late Oba Simeon Akinlalu passed away in 2016, joining his forefathers, leaving the stool of the town vacant.

The council and a few warrant chiefs in the village allegedly intended to impose an obaship candidate in defiance of court orders prohibiting them from doing so, according to the four governing houses, the Ijaye, Alara, Gbogurun, and Akinyemohun.

This information was provided to our correspondent on Monday in a statement that was jointly signed by Prince Aduwo, Ebunola Agbede, and Daisi Alara.

The ruling houses reportedly requested the acting governor to warn the worried senior council officials not to spark a conflict over the kingship issue in the neighbourhood. They warned that if the council went ahead with the Oba’s enthronement process, there might be trouble in the town.

Following the passing of Oba S.O. Akinlalu II, the 10th Orungberuwa of Ode Erinje, the case was brought before a judge in 2016. The four ruling houses previously listed appeared in court to oppose the Ebiekuraju Ruling House. In 2017, the court issued a temporary injunction prohibiting all parties from climbing further stools. The case has been pending in court ever since.

“Last year, His Excellency Mr. Lucky Ayedatiwa, the acting governor, invited all the parties to Akure and, following the meeting, acknowledged to us that Ode Erinje lacked a chieftaincy declaration. As a result, he claimed that the government’s hands were constrained due to multiple court injunctions and decrees as well as the lack of a chieftaincy declaration.

“The acting governor then urged everyone to return home and reach a peaceful agreement by choosing or electing our king in accordance with Ode Erinje history and customs. He advised us to maintain the traditional order of rotation while also making plans to lift all relevant judicial injunctions. The peace talks were held, but the Olajorin faction of Ebiekuraju refused to ratify the deal made as a result, leaving the talks in a deadlock.

“We were astonished to receive a letter from the council chairman ordering kingmakers to appoint warrant chiefs notwithstanding all the judicial injunctions that are currently in effect. By sending a letter of protest to the appropriate government agencies, the Ijaye and Alara expressed their opposition to this development.

The statement continued by saying that the Ijaye Ruling House also filed a new lawsuit at the Okitipupa High Court in August under suit number No. HOK/52/23 and obtained another court injunction prohibiting all parties and relevant government agencies, as well as the community’s chiefs and warrant chiefs, from proceeding with the choice or election of a new monarch, pending the outcome of the motions on notice.

“We hereby use this platform to issue a cautionary note to the warrant chiefs and the chairman of the LG. The court order and injunction will be enforced if they are disobeyed, the statement said, and as a result, they risk being arrested and prosecuted.