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Saturday 24 October 2015

Ooni Stool: Court Dismisses Suit Against Ife 1980 Chieftaincy Declaration



An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo yesterday dismissed a suit challenging the competence of the Ooni of Ife 1980 Chieftaincy declaration.

The declaration was the authority relied upon by the Ife kingmakers in asking the Giesi Ruling House to present the successor to the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

The Lafogido Ruling House through Sooko Adegoke and Prince Marcus Adebola Akimoyero had approached the court to stop Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the Obalufe of Ile-Ife, Oba Solomon Omisakin (now late) and the Lowa of Ife, Chief Joseph Ijaodola from allowing only Giesi Ruling House present the next Ooni.

The plaintiffs asked the court to set aside the 1980 Ife Chieftaincy Declaration which they described as “lopsided, unjust, unconstitutional and unfair.”

Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo,  in her judgement said the plaintiffs’ litigation was belated as the declaration was made in September 14, 1979 and registered in January 28, 1980.

She said they should have filed their objection within five years of the registration of the declaration.



The suit was accordingly dismissed.

Meanwhile, stakeholders including Ife Elders,Princes (Ajo  Sookos), Ife Development Board, Ife Progressive Forum, religious leaders and Ajo Baales, have met on resolving the logjam sparked by the succession race.

Sources said the meeting received position papers submitted by  the Sookos on the issue.

The worried Sookos had set up a committee with three representatives from each of the four ruling houses – Osinkola, Ogboru, Giesi and Lafogido.

It was gathered that the meeting agreed that each ruling house should present three aspirants to the kingmakers who will thereafter pick one as next Ooni.

The chairman of the meeting, Chief Mosadoluwa Omisore, and the secretary ,Professor Muibi Opeloye, in a resolution asked the Sookos to “appeal to the ruling houses to withdraw the cases in courts in order not to cause undue delay in the selection process.”

They said that “even though there is obvious need for review of the Ooni’s chieftaincy  declaration” such should wait till the new Ooni is installed since the chieftancy declaration cannot be amended during an interregnum.”

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