Appeal Court dismisses suit challenging installation of Ekiti monarch

The Appeal Court Division in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday dismissed a suit challenging the installation of Alawo of Awo-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun local government area, Oba Abdulazeez Olaleye.

The court held that the process of his selection did not contravene the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Law.

The Appeal court also awarded N50,000 cost against the appellants, who were representatives of Aladejuyigbe ruling house and the monarch’s opponents.

The appellants were: Ebenezer Aladejuyigbe, Alex Aladejuyigbe, Adedipe Aladejuyigbe, Folarin Aladejuyigbe, Kolade Aladejuyigbe and Gbeminiyi Aladejuyigbe.

Joined in the suit were: Governor Kayode Fayemi, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, Mr Gabriel Alake, Azeez Sulaimon Olaleye and three others.

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The three-man Appeal Court justices upheld the judgement of the trial judge, Justice Emmanuel Omotoso, delivered on October 7, 2015, where he struck out the appellant’s case for lack of merit.

In his judgement, Justice Paul Obi Elechi said, “Having gone through the judgement of the lower court and the submissions of the counsels to both parties, I agree with the learned trial judge that he lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the action initiated by the appellants.

“All the issues in this appeal are here resolved in favour of the respondents and against the appellants. This appeal, therefore, fails for lacking in merit and it is hereby dismissed. The ruling of the lower court is hereby upheld. Cost of N50,000 is awarded against the appellants,” he said.

Following the installation of Oba Olaleye as the new Alawo, some aggrieved members went to court claiming that rotation was not followed and that the monarch was not a member of the Aladejuyigbe ruling house.