Ogun court sacks monarch

AN Ogun State Hight Court, sitting in Ota Judicial Division and presided by Justice Nosiru Agbeja has sacked the coronet Oba in Ososun town in the Ifo Local Government of the state thereby  ending the ending the six years of anxiety and fear among residents of the town.

The judge also declared the claimant Chief Taofeek Olawale Fasina “being a chief at Oko is duly the chief to be appointed to Baale of Ososun according to Oko traditional culture.

The claimant had in 2011 challenged the coronation of Chief Ezekiel Solanke as the coronet Oba of the Ogun community and joined in the suit as defendants were: the Ogun State governor, the state commissioner for chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs, the Attorney General of Ogun State, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Oba Adedapo Tejuosho and Oba Samuel Atanda Oladipupo.

Justice Agbelu, in his judgement ruled that “consequently, I grant relief sought by the claimant as follows: a declaration that the act of the 2nd–5th defendants by appointing the 1st defendant as the coronet Oba of Ososun as null and void.”

“A declaration that the claimant being a chief at Oko is duly the chief to be appointed to Baale of Ososun according to Oko traditional culture “the judge also ruled in favour of the claimant.

The Ogun court judge also granted relief to the prayer if the claimant that “a declaration that the 1st defendant is not entitled to be appointed and installed as the coronet oba of Ososun   and that the appointment or anything done whatsoever by the 2nd-5th defendants and 7th defendant in respect of the appointment is illegal and void.”

Justice Agbelu also granted “an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the 1st defendant from parading himself as Oba or Kabiyesi in Ogun State.

The court also declared that Oba Tejuosho’ s counter claim against the 1-5th and 7th defendants succeeds inits entirety. Accordingly, it is hereby declared that Ososun town is an Egba Oke Ona settlement and originally settled by Edun and others from Ago Oko, Egba Oke Ona section of Abeokuta North Local Government area of Ogun State.

Justice Agbelu among others also declared that the 6th defendant {Oba Tejuosho} is counter claim that “the declaration that the purported recommendation and subsequent upgrading of the 1st defendant as the coronet Oba of Ososun by the 2nd defendant is null and void.

“A declaration by virtue of provision of the Chief Laws of Ogun State, the 6th defendant/counter claimant is the prescribed authority for Ososun town, Ogun State,” the judge also granted.