Amidst royal rumble, the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure has fixed January 17 for the hearing of the suit challenging the qualification of Oba Oluwole Adetimehin Olufaderin for the throne of Jegun of Ile-Oluji in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government area of Ondo State.
The hearing of the appeal was coming five years after the first class monarch was installed as Jegun of Ile-Oluji to replace Oba Stephen Adedugbe who joined his ancestors early in 2015.
The appeal was also coming after two years an Akure High Court dismissed the suit challenging the installation of the monarch over the failure to file the suit 21 days after the appointment had been made and for the failure of the applicants to pay N100.000.00 as security before such an action can be instituted.
Oba Olufaderin was presented with staff of office and instrument of appointment in January 25, 2016 to replace Oba Adedugbe who joined his ancestors in 2015. Dissatisfied with the installation, the Jimoko Ruling House, whose turn it is to produce the monarch of the town challenged the installation at the law court and asked the court to invalidate the appointment.
The major crux of the suit which was filed through the Counsel to the Ruling House, Otunba Olayinka Bolanle was the monarch is not from the male line of the Jimoko Ruling House.
The Ruling House pointedly asked the court to remove the Oba Olufaderin from the throne as he is not entitled to the stool of Jegun because he is not allegedly from the male linage of the House.
Suing of behalf of themselves and other candidates from the male line of Jimoko Ruling House, Princes Akinladenu Aladegbamigbe and Akinladenu Adekunle asked the court to declare that Oba Olufaderin is not entitled to the throne in conformity with 1981 declaration of Morgan Chieftaincy Review Commission.
The suit has as defendants Oba Olufaderin, Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy matters, the State Governor, the Chairman of Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government, Prince Ayeyemi Ademuyiwa, Chiefs J.A Fagbamiye, Odofin Adeoba and Sasere Akinyosade.
Consequently, it prayed for an order setting aside the nomination of the monarch as the paramount ruler of the kingdom.
It prayed “for an order restraining the monarch by himself, his agents, servants or privies or otherwise however called from parading or futher parading himself as Jegun, not being a male member of the Jimoko Ruling House.
Also, it prayed for an order of injunction restraining the government and kingmakers from further recognition of Oba Olufaderin as the Jegun of Ile-Oluji.
The Appellate court however fixed the hearing of the suit in January 14.
