By Adams Akorede
The appeal filed by former Governor of Oyo state, Abiola Ajimobi challenging the nullification of all the processes that led to the crowing of 21 kings in a single day in Ibadan, may soon be withdrawn by the incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde, any moment from now.
A two-page ‘terms of settlement’ dated August 20 and signed by the counsel to a former Governor Rashidi Ladoja; the Osi Olubadan who challenged the installation of new kings and got judgment, Mr. Michael Lana and Mr. Gbadegesin Adetunji Wasiu, the Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary of Oyo state, stated the procedure for settlement.
Tagged ‘official service’ and received by the Registrar of the court of appeal on Tuesday, the Governor of the state, who is the appellant/applicant and appellant/defendant, Ladoja and Justice Boade Akintunde (for himself and on behalf of all members of the judicial commission of inquiry on Olubadan chieftaincy), respectively agreed as follows:-
The terms of settlement which carried both the appeal number CA/99 & 99A/2018 and suit no. M/317/2017 stated that the report of Boade-led commission of inquiry created disharmony “because of the subsequent elevation of chiefs in Ibadan among the chiefs and the Olubadan of Ibadanland.”
It also observed the fact that the new administration of Oyo State stands on the of rule of law and the two parties have also recognised the fact that the House of Assembly has not amended the Chiefs Law of Oyo State.
The need for truce was further premised on the fact that amendment could have probably given legal backing to the gazette that led to the installation of the 21 new kings.
Makinde, according to a top government aide who spoke to Pacesetter News on anonymity believed that there is the need to restore peace, communal interests and relationships that existed before the said report and gazette in Ibadanland.
The terms for truce stated further that the parties had met and agreed that all gazettes affecting the chieftaincy laws of Ibadanland issued during the pendency of the appeal be set aside, particularly gazette no. 3, volume 43 dated 29th March, 2018 being Oyo state legal notice nos 20 to 67.
It also made reference to the judgment of the state high court in suit no. M/317/2017 between Ladoja against the Governor of Oyo state and another.
The aide said the Governor has taken it upon himself to discontinue the matter where Ajimobi left it, adding that, “the governor will reconcile all parties involved to foster unity and harmony in the protection of the tradition of Ibadanland as relates to the chieftaincy laws of Ibadanland.”
Ajimobi had, on Sunday August 27, 2017 crowned all the 21 kings. Ladoja who was also a beneficiary stayed away from the ceremony and instituted a court action, which gave him victory.
Justice Olajumoke Aiki of an the State High Court delivered the judgment on January 19, 2018, and declared that the Justice Boade-led Judicial Commission of Enquiry that reviewed the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other Related Chieftaincies in Ibadanland as unconstitutional, illegal, null, void and of no effect.
But administration of Ajimobi appealed the judgment, giving 11 grounds why the judgment of the lower court should be upturned.
The appeal was still pending when the the All Progressives Congress-led government left power on May 29, 2019, to which pave way for Makinde’s Peoples Democratic Party.
