Lanlate stool: Oguntayi, Adio Ruling House appeals to Ajimobi

Following the ruling of Justice Bayo Taiwo of the High Court of Justice of Oyo State, Eruwa division, two ruling houses, the Oguntayi and Adio, in Lanlate area of Oyo State, have appealed to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matter as well as the Ibarapa East council area to implement the court judgment that favours them over the legal tussle of Onilala stool of Lanlate.

The judgement which was delivered on October 5,  2018 brings to a close, the matter that been dragging in the last six years over the rightful traditional ruler of the ancient town.

The first claimant, Sunday BolawaleOladejo Oguntayi II was removed as the Onilala of Lanlate in 2012 while AbdulLateef Olagoke Olawuyi who is the first defendant in the suit was installed in his place.

The case with suit number HER/6/2012 between the claimants; Sunday Olusegun Bolawale Oladejo, Olagoke Atunwa, Prince Oyeleke  Jolaoso, Raufu Adelowo, for themselves and on behalf of Oguntayi and Adio ruling house Lanlate and seven defendants listed as Abdulateef Olawuyi Olagoke, Alhaji K.M. Olaosegba, Alhaji Makanjuola Aderoju (for themselves and on behalf of Bioku Ruling House of Lanlate), Governor of Oyo State, Attorney General of Oyo State, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy for Local Government, Oyo State and Ibarapa East Local Government.

Addressing journalists in the Ibadan, the representatives of the two families, Mr. Mufutau Eyitayo who spoke on behalf of the family said the families decided to call on the governor who had allowed fair hearing during the six years legal tussle to use his office and ensure that the judgment of His Lordship, Justice Taiwo be implemented.

Other members of the two ruling houses that were present at the briefing include: Prince OsuOlagboye, Prince Oyeleke Jolaoso, Alhaji Lawal Gbadegesin, Bamidele Akeem and Prince Raufu Adelowo.

Eyitayo said since 14 of their prayers had been granted, the family cannot wait endlessly after judgment and thereby expressed their appreciation to “the Oyo State government for allowing fair hearing during the legal tussle over the Onilala stool. We sincerely appreciate Senator Abiola Ajimobi for giving the judiciary a free hand to operate in delivery of justice to the common man.

“We are using this medium to appeal to the Oyo State Government led by the Executive Governor of the State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters as well as the Ibarapa East Local Government to implement the judgment of the 5th day October, 2018 delivered by Justice BayoTaiwo in favour of the Oguntayi and Adio ruling house.

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“We believe that this government works hand in hand with the judiciary and so we appeal that the Oyo state government should implement the prayer of the claimant granted by Justice Taiwo”, promising that the ruling house which had kept and lived by the honour of rule of law while the case lasted will continue to be law abiding in the belief that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.”

He stated that “the prayers granted by Justice B.A. Taiwo include prayer 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,13,14,15,16 and 17.”

A  copy of CTC of the judgment signed by Honourable Justice Taiwo and made available to journalists stated the approved 15 declaration of claimants prayers as ‘succeeds’.

He stated that “The first claimant got appointed as the Baale of Lanlate because the 2006 declaration was used as the law when he was appointed. The applicable law to be used to fill the vacant stool of the Baale of Lanlate as at 2008 when the vacancy was filed is the 2006 which is currently the law and not the 1958 law that existed when the last Baale died.

“In view of the above, 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,13,14,15,16 and 17 succeeds.” Continued from page 8

In the copy of the judgment, order 12, 13, 14, 15,16 and 17 granted by Justice Taiwo states that “order of court nullifying the instrument of office to ruling house chieftaincy dated the 12th day of January, 2013 issued to the first defendant by the fourth defendant approving the appointment of the said first defendant; order of injunction restraining the fourth to seventh defendants from recognizing or further recognizing the first defendants as the Baale of Lanlate also known as the Onilala of Lanlate, Order of injunction restraining the first defendant from parading himself as the Baale of Lanlate.”

Also, “order of injunction restraining the fourth to seventh defendants from abrogating repealing, amending or in any manner altering the 2006 Baale of Lanlate declaration so as to prejudice the claimants; order of court restoring the first claimant to his position as the Baale of Lanlate also known as the Onilala of Lanlate and restoring to him all the rights, privileges and entitlement attached to the office” and “order of court directing the fourth to seventh defendants to pay to the first claimant all his salaries, emoluments, stipends and entitlements howsoever called as the Baale of Lanlate from the time of his deposition to the time of his restoration to office.”