An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has ordered the deposition of the Oluloro of Iloro Ekiti, Oba Femi Olugbesoye, over non-compliance with native law and customs regarding coronation rites
The Ekiti State Executive Council approved the appointment of Olugbesoye as the Oluloro of Iloro Ekiti on December 21, 2019.
The judge, Justice Jide Aladejana, according to a copy of the judgment made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, made the pronouncement while delivering judgment in the suit filed by Prince Olakunle Fadare and four others, challenging Olugbesoye and four others over his ascendancy to the throne.
Fadare and four others (claimants) had claimed in court that Olugbesoye did not perform the necessary traditional rites, but the defendants dismissed this, adding that the court lacked jurisdiction.
In the judgment delivered on September 30, 2024, Justice Aladejana held that “In the circumstance, the sole issue formulated is resolved in favour of the claimants against the defendants. The action of the claimants succeeds.”
The judge pronounced, “I consequently declare that the failure and refusal of the first defendant to present himself for coronation rites by the Aoropare in line with the Native Law and Custom of Oluloro of Iloro Ekiti is wrongful.
“I also order the second to fifth defendants to depose the first defendant as the Oluloro of Iloro Ekiti in line with the Customary Law of Iloro Ekiti.
The first defendant claimed that the claimants could only approach the court by way of judicial review or order of mandamus.
The second to fifth defendants, who also urged the court to dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction, described the matter as “grossly incompetent” and an “abuse of court process.”
Meanwhile, counsel for the first defendant, Owoseni Ajayi, who said an appeal had been filed against the judgment, stated, “We are on appeal, but we have not been given a date yet.”
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