Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo Chieftaincy tussles: Appeal Court admitted fresh evidence, declined application for injunction:
In a significant development regarding the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo chieftaincy dispute in Ondo State, Nigeria, the Court of Appeal Akure Division made key rulings on July 14th. The court heard the appeal concerning the dispute in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government.
At the resumed hearing of the appeal on the dispute over the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo chieftaincy in Ile-Oluji/ Oke-Igbo Local Government of Ondo State at the Court of Appeal Akure Division on 14th July, lead Counsel to the Appellants, Olalekan Ojo SAN, sought leave to amend his notice of appeal, adduce new evidence of the registered declaration of the Chieftaincy, and injunction to restrain the Respondents from taking steps to appoint a new Oluoke and that all actions taken in that direction be vacated by the Court.
Mrs Adeola Yusuf, counsel representing the Attorney General of the state who was appearing in the matter for the first time informed the court that she was not briefed on the processes some of which were only being served on her in the courtroom that day.
On his part, lead Counsel to Are Kugbaigbe Ruling House, Chief Sola Ebiseni said since the Appeal was adjourned for definite hearing, he was ready having filed his Respondent’s Brief. He told the court that the application to adduce evidence of the registered declaration made by the Appellants in 2020 when the case been ending at the High Court since 2018 was legally inadmissible and a waste of time hearing the Appeal.
He reminded the Court that the High Court set aside the appointment of Chief Babajide Lawrence Oluwole as the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo as illegal and ordered government to invite the Are Kugbaigbe Ruling House to present candidate for the vacant throne, that the deposed Oba filed his notice of appeal after which he died on the 30th April 2025 at the age of 94 years.
He described the application for injunction as an act of indolent Appellants who refused to prosecute their appeal but asking the court to act in vain by seeking injunction to preserve the crown for a deposed and deceased appellant.
The court presided over by Justices Omoleye, Shagari and Obiorah observed that the appeal was of much public interest which hearing has been delayed despite opportunities granted by the Court and ruled out all applications for joining the appeal as interested parties, that the Local Government which was the target of the application for injunction was not represented and there was no proof of service of the hearing notice.
The court invariably granted the application to amend the notice of appeal and directed the Appellant’s counsel to proffer arguments on the new evidence sought to be adduced in his amended brief.
The court declined hearing the Motion for injunction and ruled that it is “put in abeyance” and that counsel to the parties should ensure that their clients take no steps that may breach the peace of the community and adjourned the Appeal for definite hearing on October 20th after vacation.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, the Head of Kugbaigbe Ruling House, Prince Rufus Adekanye said “Oke-Igbo has crossed the Rubicon into a glorious era beneficial to all our people. As the reining Ruling House, we are committed to carrying everyone along for the peace and development of our community.