Onipara stool: Court adjourns hearing to October 6
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
The suit instituted by Amororo Ruling House of Ipara Remo before Ogun State High Court, Sagamu, challenging the nomination and coronation of Onipara of Ipara Remo, Oba Taiwo Taiwo has been adjourned to October 6 for hearing.
When the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday, the presiding Judge over the case, Justice Nasiru Agbelu said he had a medical appointment to keep by 10am and therefore urged for an adjournment.
The suit was thereafter adjourned to October 6. It would be recalled that during the last court sitting, the Amororo family had rejected overtures of out of court settlement over the matter as disclosed by the 11th defendant, Oba Taiwo Taiwo through his lawyer, Olatunji Ayanlaja, SAN.
The Amororo Ruling House represented by Madam Adetimeyin Gbowowa, Prince Fatai Adeniji Sonola, Prince Muyiwa Adeyemi and Prince Haruna Adewale had dragged Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuape, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General and kingmakers at Ipara Remo to court over an alleged imposition of Oba Taiwo Taiwo on the ancient town.
Others dragged to court were the Secretary to Remo North Local Government; Olori Emo of Ipara Remo, Adekunle Ayoka; Oluwo of Ipara Remo, Oluwole Sorionola; the Acting Olotu Iwarefa of Ipara Remo, Adeyemi Opadipe; the Acting Apena of Ipara Remo, Chief Odubayo Ojeleye; Asipa Emo of Ipara-Remo, Owolabi Opadipe and Balogun of Ipara-Remo, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi.
The Amororo family in a suit number HCS/90/2021 claimed that Oba Taiwo Taiwo is not a member of Amororo Ruling House and therefore not entitled to have participated in the nomination exercise of the Onipara of Ipara.
The Amororo family maintained that the nomination process leading to the selection of Oba Taiwo for the vacant stool was null and void.
The royal family also noted that the selection process for the filling of the Onipara of Ipara Remo stool conducted by the kingmakers is contrary to the native law and custom of Ipara-Remo.
The ruling house however prayed the court for order setting aside the nomination and selection of Oba Taiwo as Onipara of Ipara-Remo Oba elect.
The Amororo family further prayed the court for an order directing the State Government to set in motion, another nomination and selection exercise towards the filing of the vacant stool of Onipara of Ipara Remo area of the state.
The ruling house also want the court to issue a perpetual Injunction restraining Oba Taiwo from parading and holding himself out as the Onipara of Ipara-Remo.
The prayers added, “an Order setting aside the interview of nominated candidates for the selection of the Onipara of Ipara-Remo, by the 10th Defendant not been saddled with the statutory role in the selection exercise of Onipara of Ipara Chieftaincy.
“An Order setting aside the purported nomination and selection of the 11th defendant as the Onipara of Ipara-Remo Oba elect.
“An Order directing the 1st 4th defendants to set in motion, another nomination and selection exercise towards the filing of the vacant stool of Onipara of Ipara Remo, Ogun State.
“An Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the 11th Defendant not being a member of Amororo Ruling House of Onipara of Ipara-Remo Chieftaincy from participating in the nomination and selection of the Onipara of Ipara-Remo Chieftaincy.
“An Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the 11th defendant from parading and or holding himself out as the Onipara of Ipara-Remo, Ogun State.
“An Order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st to 9th defendant from recognizing the 11th Defendant as the Onipara of Ipara-Remo, Ogun State.”