Court Sacks Monarch in Ondo

Court Sacks Monarch in Ondo

An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has sacked a traditional ruler, the Olowa of Oka in Ondo community, Ondo West Local Government Area, Oba Noah Olafusi Ijebu, for improper nomination and subsequent ordered installation of another prince for the throne.

The order for the sack of the monarch was given by Justice Aderemi Adegoroye, sequel to a suit filed by members of Adesinmirinwa and Olupona ruling houses against the installation of the monarch.

In the case with suit no MOD/ 71/2005 which has the governor of Ondo State, his deputy, the Attorney  General and Commissioner  for Justice, the Osemawe of Ondo kingdom, Oba  Victor  Kiladejo, as well as High Chief Lisa J. A Akinkunmi representing the kingmakers of Oka community and Mr. Noah Olafusi Ijelu were defendants, the two ruling houses which instituted the case urged the court to hold that there are only two ruling houses in Oka community-Akinsinmirinwa and Olupona.

The plaintiffs claimants in their prayers also stated that the Olupona Ruling House should be the one to ascend the throne of Oloja of Oka since the last occupier of the throne, the Late Oloja Dada Adedimeji Akinsoyinu, was from Adesinmirinwa Ruling House.

They also urged the court to accept their prayer that the sixth defendants in the case, Noah Olafusi Ijelu, is not a member of any of the two ruling houses, hence his purported installation  by the Osemawe of Ondo should be set aside by the court.

Other prayers by the plaintiffs include an order setting aside any attempt to install the sixth defendant, Noah Olafusi Ijelu as the Oloja of Oka as well as perpetual injunction restraining him  from parading himself as the Oloja of the community, either within or outside Ondo community.

Delivering judgement, Justice Adegoroye declared that the Adesinmirinwa and Olupona ruling houses are the two houses to nominate candidate to the throne of the Oloja of Oka.

He also stated that the ascension to the throne of Oloja of Oka is by rotation between the two ruling houses of Adesinmirinwa and Olupona,

Adegoroye, therefore, set aside the purported selection approval and installation of Noah Olafusi Ijelu, thereby restraining him from parading himself as the Oloja of Oka henceforth.

The judge also ruled that the fourth defendant, the Osemawe of Ondo kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo, and the fifth defendant, High Chief Lisa Akinkunmi, who is representing the kingmakers and other kingmakers in Oka town to immediately commence the installation and other traditional rite to install a new Oloja of Oka forthwith.

Complying with the judgement, it was gathered that traditional rite preceding the installation of new Oloja has started.