Makinde reinstates Oladejo as ‘Baale’ of Lanlate, deposes Olagoke

Oyo State governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde has approved the reinstatement of Oba Bolawaye Oladejo as Onilala/Baale of Lanlate town, Ibarapa East Local Government Area of the state.

Oladejo’s reinstatement as ‘Baale’ of Lanlate is in giving effect to the October 5, 2018 judgment of Justice Bayo Taiwo delivered at High Court of Justice, Oyo State.

Oba Oladejo’s reinstatement by Makinde was conveyed in a letter with ref no: CB/141/169/1Vol.111/263, dated February 3, 2020, titled, “Re: Appeal for Implementation of Judgment Suit No. HER/6/2012,” and signed by Director, Chieftaincy Matters, state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.

In the letter sighted by Nigerian Tribune, addressed to Oba Bolawaye Oladejo, one Chief Abdul-Lateef Olagoke was declared deposed and his purported appointment, reinstatement unlawful, illegal, null and void.

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In another letter from the state government, Makinde had prohibited Olagoke from parading himself as the Onilala/Baale of Lanlate and asked him to vacate the throne and hand over all paraphernalia of office of Onilala/Baale of Lanlate to the Caretaker Chairman, Ibarapa East Local Government with immediate effect.

Makinde had noted that the deposition of Olagoke was in exercising the power conferred upon him by section 26 (1 & 3) Cap 28 of the Chiefs’ Law of Oyo State of Nigeria, in year 2000.

The reinstated Oladejo got the October 5, 2018 judgment in the favour having gone to court to protest his deposition as Baale of Lanlate on 12th February 2012 by the immediate past administration in the state.

In the suit no. HER/6/2012, Oladejo, Olagoke Atunwa, Oyeleke Jolaoso, Rafiu Jolaso (on behalf of Oguntayi ruling houses) had sued Abdulateef Olagoke, K. M. Olaosegba, Makanjuola Aderoju (on behalf of Bioku Ruling House), Governor of Oyo state, Attorney General of Oyo state, Commissioner for local government and Ibarapa East local government.

Justice Bayo Taiwo had in her ruling, declared that the selection, appointment, and installation of Bolawaye Oladejo was valid, subsisting and in accordance with the 2006 Baale of Lanlate Chieftaincy declaration.

Furthermore, Taiwo ruled that no member of the Bioku family was entitled to become the Baale of Lanlate presently because it was not the turn of the Bioku family to produce a Baale of Lanlate.

She also declared the purported reinstatement, restoration of the office of Olagoke as Baale of Lanlate by a letter dated 13th February 2012 as unlawful, illegal, null and void.

The ruling also ordered the restoration of Oladejo to his position as the Baale of Lanlate and restoring to him all the rights, privileges and entitlement attached to the office.