Oyo court strikes out case challenging Olugbon’s selection

By Adejayan Gbenga

Justice Kareem Adedokun of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan on Monday struck out a suit seeking the removal of the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, in Surulere Local Government Area of the state.

The case, instituted in 2017, was brought by Akintayo Charles Akintola of the Akintola Akinbola Section, Mrs. Olu Oyelade of the Ojediran Akinbola Section, Mr. Ladiran Olaniyi of the Oluniyi Akinbola Section, Dr. (Mrs.) Olajoke Bolade of the Abioye Akinbola Section, all of Ile Akinbola, Isale Laka, Ogbomoso, as well as Akinwale Akintola.

The first defendant in the suit was the Governor of Oyo State, while the Attorney-General, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Secretary to the Surulere Local Government were listed as the second, third, and fourth defendants respectively.

Also joined in the suit were the Jagun Olugbon and Chairman of the Orile-Igbon Chieftaincy Kingmakers, Chief Ajani Awotoro (fifth defendant), Oba Francis Olusola Alao (sixth defendant), and Mr. George Okunola Olayinka and Prince John Oyewo Oyelade as the seventh and eighth defendants.

The claimants, in suit number HOI/22/2017, sought nine reliefs, including a declaration that only direct male descendants from the five sections of the Akinbola family are eligible for selection and appointment as the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon.

They argued that Oba Alao is not a direct male descendant of the Akinbola family and was, therefore, not qualified to be selected or nominated for the stool.

However, the defendants submitted that the claimants erred by failing to sue Surulere Local Government—a juristic person with the legal authority to initiate the selection and approval process for the Olugbon—and instead sued the Secretary to the Local Government, who is not a juristic person.

In his ruling, Justice Adedokun held that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case because the claimants lacked locus standi and failed to sue the appropriate authority. He concluded that Surulere Local Government, being the competent body in matters relating to chieftaincy selection and appointments, was not properly joined in the suit.