Lagelu descendants sue Oyo Govt. over exclusion from chieftaincy lines
The Lagelu descendants of Beere in Ibadan have sued the Oyo State Government, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state over their exclusion from the Ibadan Traditional Chieftaincy lines, the Olubadan Chieftaincy stool.
Also joined in the suit No I/348/2011 are the current Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji and the Olubadan- In Council.
The five defendants in the suit are the Oyo State Government, the Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Olubadan of Ibadanland and Olubadan-In-Council.
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Speaking while presenting his case before Honourable Justice Esan on Wednesday, counsel to the claimants, Barrister Jeleel Rufai argued that the Aboke family who were the descendants of Lagelu, the founder of Ibadanland should be recognized as a distinct lines along with the existing Otun and Balogun lines where Olubadan is appointed from.
Rufai urged the court to set aside the 1958 Ibadan Chieftaincy declaration which recognized only the two lines.
He said there was a need to amend the declaration to be in tandem with the current happenings.
Rufai said “I am the counsel to the claimants in this case, Lagelu/Aboke descendants family, they sued Oyo State Government, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs along with the current Olubadan of Ibadanland and the Olubadan-In-Council claiming that the way the appointment of Olubadan is being made is contrary to the age-long customary practise.
“They are contending that their family ought to be the main family to be producing the Olubadan or their family ought to be included among the lines where any Olubadan will be appointed or selected from.
“In essence, they are challenging the 1958 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration which recognizes only the Otun and Balogun lines as the two lines where Olubadan can be appointed.”
Rufai told the court that there was a need for the amendment of the declaration to allow his clients be included as a major line where an Olubadan can be appointed.
“That is the altalnative; they are even saying that they ought to be the sole line, they are ready to concede because of the age-long number of time they have been excluded; make us part of it so that as we are having Otun line and the Balogun line, let there be Lagelu line too. We will now have 3 lines.
“Because the system of appointing Olubadan is different, the only decent in the whole of Yorubaland, it is the only novel and unique method of appointment of traditional rulers.
“If Lagelu is the founder of Ibadan, why are you now putting aside, why are you now dishonouring, why are you disregarding the descendants of Lagelu, don’t you think the history is to their side, even though they want to add some other people to them, they must always be there, that is our complaint.”
Speaking further, Rufai said “Mind you, their family have a role they play, they are in the custody of the Oke-Ibadan and even the original crown Lagelu brought from Ile-Ife is in their custody. So if we want to go by history, Lagelu/Aboke family ought to be given their due regard.
“So if we win this case, if we scale through, one of the likely consequence of it is that, that 1958 declaration may be amended by the executive. We are only asking for setting aside of that declaration, it is the duty of the executive to now put in place a panel of inquiry to come up with an amended Chieftaincy declaration which only recognizes Otun and Balogun lines. “
None of the defendants has appeared since the case was filed in 2011, a development which has made the case to be adjourned for about four times.
But, at the court on Wednesday, the counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, Mrs. Tayo Aderounmu, a legal officer from the state ministry of Justice asked the court to give her more time to prepare for the case.
Aderounmu then assured the court that all facts at her disposal would be ready before the adjourned date.
The presiding judge, Justice Esan, then adjourned the case till April 6.
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