Olubadan of Ibadan drags Governor Ajimobi to court over coronation of 21 new monarchs

OLUBADAN of Ibadan Oba Saliu Adetunji has dragged the Oyo State governor Abiola Ajimobi and 23 others to court over their involvements in the crowning of 21 kings in Ibadan on August 27 this year.

In an unprecedented development, Governor Ajimobi crowned 21 new monarchs for Greater Ibadan despite the fact that the city already has a monarch in the Olubadan. Suing the governor for the move, the Oba Adetunji has filed a suit which also mentions Oyo State attorney-general and justice commissioner and its commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters.

Apart from the suit filed by the Olubadan, there are others filed by a former governor of the state, Rashidi Ladoja, Abdul Jelil Karimu and several others. In the suit filed on September 19, the Olubadan is claiming that the governor violated the Chiefs Laws CAP 28 of the state in installing the new kings.

He argued that Governor Ajimobi did not possess the power and authority to confer anybody with the right to wear a beaded crown and coronet. In addition, the Olubadan is also claiming that the crowning of the kings is illegal and void since the governor did not consult with the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

In his suit, the Olubadan is seeking an order setting aside the Gazette number 14 and 15 of Volume 42 of August 23 and 24, 2017 made by the governor, which conferred the right to wear crowns and coronets on the elevated high chiefs and Baales. Oba Adetunji therefore, prayed the court to set aside the installation of the new kings.

Abiodun Abduraheem, Oba Adetunji's lawyer, said: “The governor exercised his power to elevate chiefs to kings acting under the provision of Section 28 (1) Cap 28 of the Chiefs Laws of Oyo State. The Olubadan is contending the fact that before you can exercise any power under the section of the Chiefs Law, you must as a matter of necessity consult with the Oyo State Council of Chiefs and Obas.

“As far as the monarch is concerned, the council has not been holding meeting by virtue of the directive of the governor in 2011. Since the council is not sitting, the governor could not have consulted with it before going on to carry out the action that led to the crowning of the kings."

He added that there is no provision that says that the governor can waive consultation with the council if it is not sitting. According to Mr Abduraheem, the law is clear on this matter and as it is today, the Olubadan of Ibadan land is the chairman of that council, even though the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, is contending that in court.

“In the entire provisions of the Chiefs Laws, beaded crown is mentioned and not coronet, which the government claimed that was given to the Baales who were elevated to kings. The government stated that it gave beaded crowns to the high chiefs and coronet to the Baales but there are no provisions for coronet in the state Chiefs Laws.

“The issue of amending chieftaincy declaration of the Olubadan can only be done after certain requirements are fulfilled. The law says that there must be a chieftaincy committee to be set up by the governor before such thing can be done," Mr Abduraheem added.