Court dismisses Deji of Akure’s suit challenging installation of Iralepo of Isinkan as monarch
By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure
An Akure High Court, has dismissed the suit filed by the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi Ogunlade challenging the appointment and installation of the Iralepo of Isinkan, Oba Olugbenga Ojo as a recognised Chieftaincy by the Ondo State Government.
The court presided over by Justice Segun Odusola held that the Iralepo of Isinkan is a recognized chieftaincy under the Chiefs Laws of the state and not under the Deji of Akure.
Recall that the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi Ogunlade, through his lawyer, Mr Ekaete Udofot had sued Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, and traditional kingmakers of Isikan over the installation of Oba Olugbenga Ojo as the monarch of Isikan
But while delivering his judgement on the matter, Justice Odusola ruled that the acts of the Executive Council of Ondo state in admitting the Iralepo of Isinkan to the status of recognised chieftaincy has not been shaking, ruling that the Iralepo of Isinkan by law is a recognised chieftaincy in Akure South Local Government Area of the state.
In an originating summons in suit No AK/111M/2021 filed by the Deji of Akure on the 22nd October 2021, Oba Aladetoyinbo claimed that the Government of Ondo State had no powers to recognise the Iralepo of Isinkan stating that a judgement of the Court of Appeal had declared that the Iralepo of Isinkan was a quarter Chief under the Prescribed Authority of the Deji of Akure.
However, Chief Sola Ebiseeni, counsel to the Oba Olugbenga Ojo who has been appointed as the Iralepo of Isinkan and the Isinkan community raised a preliminary objection challenging the locus standi of the Deji to institute the action being not a member of Isinkan or of its ruling house.
Ebiseeni added that the Claimants failed to fulfil the conditions precedent to instituting the action under the Chiefs Law.
According to him, the suit filed by the Deji of Akure, however, lacked merit because the instrument of appointment of the Iralepo of Isinkan made by the Executive Council on the 11th of May 2005 has not been challenged by the Claimant or any other person in any Court and on the basis of which Oba Olugbenga Ojo was appointed in 1995.
The court, set aside the suit filed by the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi and his Chiefs challenging the appointment of Oba Ojo as the traditional ruler in the state.
