Court dethrones Ogun monarch

Olayinka Olukoya, Abeokuta - 26.02.2008

The Alaye of Ayetoro, Oba Azeez Ishola Adelakun, has been dethroned by an Ogun State High Court which described his election as null and void.

The court which also declared his nomination, election and approval as illega, I urged him to stop using the insignia of office as the monarch of the town.

The dethroned monarch was dragged to court by Alhaji Adisa Akinola on behalf of the Akinola ruling house challenging Oba Adelakun’s nomination and installation as the Alaye of Ayeteoro.

The challenger had argued that the monarch was not a male descendant in the first generation of Akinola ruling house which was not in conformity with the Declaration for the Oba of Ayetoro Chieftaincy.

In her judgment, Justice Mosun Dipeolu declared that the “nomination, election and approval of Oba Adelakun as Oba Ayetoro was irregular, null and void being contrary to the Oba of Ayetoro Chieftaincy Declaration and Section 14 of the Chiefs Law, Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria 1978.

“I hereby set aside his nomination and approval. He is hereby restrained from parading himself as the Oba of Ayetoro or using the insignia of Oba Ayetoro.”

Dipeolu in her judgment said Oba Adelakun was not qualified as a candidate as he was not a male descendant in the first generaiton of the Akinola Ruling House, but a male descendant in the third generation.

Continuing, she said: “having thus been disqualified then his nomination, election and approval is irregular, null and void, having contravened the provisions of Sections 14, 15 and 20 of the Chiefs Law”.