Drama in Eruwa High Court - As prince refuses to recognise Eleruwa

Ayodele Adesanmi, Abuja - 03.03.2008

THERE was a drama at an Oyo State High Court, sitting in Eruwa on Thursday as a prince contesting a suit with the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola, refused to recognise the traditional ruler as a king before the judge.

Led in evidence by counsel to the petitioners in the 10-year-old chieftaincy tussle before the court, Prince Rasheed Ajao had referred to the monarch who was also present in the court, as Prince Samuel Adegbola when the counsel to the defendants, Chief R.A. Ogunwole, raised an eyebrow just as the trial judge, Justice M.L. Abimbola, enjoined counsel to the petitioners, Alhaji Lasun Sanusi, to call the prince to order.

Responding, Prince Ajao, who was seventh witness in the age-long tussle, said; “my Lord, I will rather refer to him as the first defendant rather than call him an oba as saying so will be against my conscience.”

Testifying further, Prince Ajao, a chartered accountant, said two ruling houses — Akalako and Olaribikusi — had been ruling the town in rotation, just as he claimed that the former Eleruwa, Oba Bolanle Olaniyan, hailed from Akalako family and that it was the turn of his ruling house (Olaribikusi) to rule.

Thereafter, the counsel to the petitioner prayed the court for adjournment for further hearing just as Justice Abimbola adjourned the case until March 20.