Court adjourns hearing on Olubadan chieftaincy review

An Oyo State High Court on Monday adjourned hearing in the case filed by former governor of the state, Rashidi Ladoja, against the panel reviewing the Olubadan chieftaincy declaration till September 5.

Ladoja, who is the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, asked the court to set aside the report submitted to Governor Abiola Ajimobi by the Justice O.A Akintunde – led Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the review.

The panel, which was inaugurated on May 19 with the mandate to, among others, review the process leading to the emergence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, submitted its report to the governor on Friday.

It recommended the crowning of 32 obas in Ibadan with the Olubadan as the paramount ruler.

Lead counsel to Ladoja, Mr. Michael Lana, in a motion filed before Justice M.I Sule, asked the court to nullify the proceedings of the panel and its report.

Lana also prayed the court to compel Justice Boade and members of the panel to appear before it to explain why they should not be punished for contempt.

But the motion could not be moved as the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwaseun Abimbola, who appeared for Governor Ajimobi, said the governor was yet to be served with the processes.

But the application to have the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Lekan Balogun, removed from the suit was moved by Lana.

Balogun, who initially filed the suit with Ladoja, later opted out of the matter.