Ousted Oba sues sitting Olugbo

In the suit no. FHC/AK/CS/01/2010, the plaintiffs prayed the Court to nullify the selection and installation of Prince Obateru Akinruntan as the new Olugbo of Ugbo as the process of his enthronement contravened Ugbo customs and traditions.  Joined as defendants in the suit are:- Governor of Ondo State, the Attorney, General and Commissioner for Justice, […]

In the suit no. FHC/AK/CS/01/2010, the plaintiffs prayed the Court to nullify the selection and installation of Prince Obateru Akinruntan as the new Olugbo of Ugbo as the process of his enthronement contravened Ugbo customs and traditions.  Joined as defendants in the suit are:- Governor of Ondo State, the Attorney, General and Commissioner for Justice, Prince Obateru Akinruntan, Oba Andrew Ikuesan, the Olubo of Obenla, Oba Elias Ikuemola, the Alagho of Odonla and Oba Bode Ogbaro, the Odoka of Obe-Ogbaro.  

The plaintiffs also urged the Court to uphold the reinstatement of the former Olugbo Prince Adebanjo Mafimisebi by the Ugbo Traditional Council of Chiefs and the 16 quarters in Ugbo Kingdom in September, 2009 since the Apex Court did not rule against his eligibility to re-contest the Olugbo stool

The Supreme Court in 2007 voided the Ugbo chieftaincy declaration and ruled that a new Olugbo be installed in line with Ugbo customs and traditionas and that a new declaration be made to regulate the Olugbo stool between the two ruling houses in the kingdom.

The plaintiffs said that the presentation of staff of office by the state government to Prince Obateru as the Olugbo was an imposition and contravention of Ugbo customs.

Besides, the plaintiffs are seeking for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the third defendant from parading himself as the Olugbo of Ugbo or carry out the duties and functions of the office of the Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom.

The plaintiffs also questioned the eligibility of some traditional rulers, who are co-defendants in the case on their participation in the purported selection of Prince Akinruntan as the Olugbo and prayed the Court to declare their action null and void

They stated that their involvement as kingmakers in the purported selection of Obateru as the Olugbo was illegal hence the Ugbo chieftaincy declaration that put them in place and stipulated their status as kingmakers had been faulted and set aside by the Supreme Court.