Baale of Mowo stool: Court orders parties to maintain status quo

Justice E. O. Ogundare of a Lagos High Court sitting in Badagry has given an order mandating all parties in a suit instituted by the Opesha family of Mowo village, in Badagry, to contest the stool of the Baale of Mowo title for the family, to maintain their status prior to the filing of the suit or risk facing the consequences of contemptuous action.

The judge gave the order while ruling on a Motion on Notice for Interlocutory injunction filed by four people; Samuel Oyedele Alaka, Peter Idowu Ajayi, Marcus Oyerinde Talabi and Fiyedenu Daniel Ojo, on behalf of the Opesha family.

The motion delineated BD/4748GCMW/2018, had as defendants the governor of Lagos State, the Lagos State Attorney General, Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Community affairs, Olorunda Local Council Development Area, Oba Adewale Okoya (Onibereko of Ibereko) and Dagbeyon Abidemi Kolawole Padonu.

The Opesha family, in the motion, asked the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Olorunda Local Council Development Area by its chieftaincy committee or other agents from acting on a letter from the state government dated January 9, in respect of the Baale of Mowo stool.

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They also asked for an order restraining the government and its agencies from taking any further action by way of gazetting the appointment of Dagbeyon Abidemi Kolawole Padonu in respect of the Baale of Mowo stool.

Further, they asked for an order restraining Dagbeyon Abidemi Kolawole Padonu from acting or parading himself or holding himself as Baale of Mowo or using security agencies to preside over or invite Peter Idowu Ajayi over any issue relating to the Baale of Mowo stool or any other such order the court deems fit.

The motion was supported by an 83-paragraph affidavit sworn  to by Peter Idowu Ajayi.