By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan on Friday declared the review of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other Related Chieftaincies in Ibadan land by the Oyo State Government, as unconstitutional, illegal, null, void and of no effect.
Justice Olajumoke Aiki in her ruling held that the wearing of beaded crowns is beyond the purview of sections 10, 12 and 25 of the Oyo State Chiefs Law, stating that Section 25 of the Chiefs Law could not be treated in isolation to the provisions of Parts Two and Three of the Chiefs Laws.
The judge stressed that provisions of Parts Two and Three of the Chiefs Laws, particularly sections 10, 12 and 25, did not give power to the governor to review the Olubadan chieftaincy declaration,. while also restraining the government from accepting and implementing the reports of the commission.
Justice Aiki added that the governor exercised his power beyond the constitution and that the provisions of the chiefs laws were made by the House of Assembly, saying ‘ a judicial commission of enquiry could not amend or further amend, review or further review the chieftaincy declaration.”
Speaking with newsmen after the judgment , Counsel to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Barrister Nurudeen Adegboye said “the judge has invested a lot of effort, energy and precious judicial time on the judgment.”
“Though we hold a different view from the view of the judge or the court, the court’s view is the one that is biding. So, we have applied for the copy of the judgment. We will look at it again and based on the instruction of our client, because it is our client that has the right to appeal or not, if he gives us the instruction or if he feels he wants to accept the judgment, it is left to him.”
It will be recalled that, Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Friday May 19, 2017 set up a judicial commission of enquiry to review the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other Related Chieftaincies laws in Ibadanland and the report of the commission was submitted by the panel, in August, 2017 while a White Paper on the report was published in the Oyo State Gazette No. 14, Vol. 42 by Authority on August 23, 2017 and the amended declaration on regulating the selection to the Olubadan of Ibadan Chieftaincies and related matters published in the Oyo State Gazette No. 15, Vol. 42 by Authority in Ibadan on August 24, 2017.
Another government committee was latter set up to review the report and recommendations of the committee and the process resulted into the installation of 21 new (obas) kings in Ibadanland by the government on Sunday August 27, 2017 at the Mapo Hall Arcade, Ibadan amidst drums and fanfare.
The 21 new kings comprised eight members of the Olubadan-in-Council elevated from ‘High Chiefs’ to beaded crown wearing monarchs while the remaining 13 are village heads (Baales) promoted to coronet wearing obas.
