21 Ibadan kings lose crowns as court set aside Ajimobi gazette

Fifty-three months after they were elevated and coronated as
crown-wearing obas in Ibadanland by former Governor Abiola Ajimobi
of Oyo State, a State High Court judge, Justice A. Aderemi on
Tuesday sets aside all gazettes to the effect.

In granting the terms of settlement jointly filed by the State
Government and the claimant who doubles as the Olubadan of
Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, Justice Aderemi said since
the parties had met and agreed, he was left with no option than to
set aside the gazette.

Ladoja had in 2018 won a landmark judgment which quashed all the
processes that led to the coronation of his colleague-high chiefs
and some Baales numbering 21 on August 27, 2017, by Ajimobi.

Ajimobi who was not satisfied with the lower court’s judgment,
appealed same; which was still pending as at the time May 29, 2019,
when he left office.

His successor, Governor Seyi Makinde recently set the ball
rolling for an amicable resolution of the dispute which pitted all
the 21 ‘kings’ against the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu
Adetunji since 2017.

The government confronted the court of appeal with terms of
settlement and the latter on August 23 this year referred parties
in the controversial coronation of the kings to a lower court.

On Tuesday, the State High Court 2 in the suit no. M/317/2017,
between Ladoja as claimant and Governor of the state with retired
Justice Akintunde Boade for himself and on behalf of all members of
the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Olubadan chieftaincy, as
defendants, put seal on the terms of reference brought before
it.

The judgement read by Justice Aderemi reads; “that all the
gazettes affecting the chieftaincy laws of Ibadan land particularly
gazette Nos.14 Vol.42 of 23rd August 2017;15 Vol 42of 24 August
2017 and 3 Vol 43 of 29th March 2018 and the subsequent elevation
of High Chiefs and Baales in Ibadanland as Obas during the pendency
of this suit be and are hereby set aside.

“That the right to wear beaded crowns and coronets granted by
the state government during the pendency of the suit, are hereby
revoked.

“That the 1st defendant shall take steps to reconcile all
parties involved in the chieftaincy matters to foster unity and
harmony in the protection of the tradition of Ibadan land as
relates to the chieftaincy laws of Ibadan land,” the judge
added.