Contempt, As Osun Govt Moves To elevate Village Chief

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The Osun State Government may soon be charged for contempt of court over its alleged flagrant disobedience to a court order, retraining the process of installing a village head, Chief Sunday Akinwale as the king of Eko Ajala, in Ifelodun Local Government area of the state.

The Elende of Eko-Ende, Oba Abdul Raufu Olaniyan Ajiboye, in whose jurisdiction the village was situated in a protest letter sent to our Correspondent on Tuesday accused the government of commencing the process of the installation against court ruling.

The monarch, in an ex parte motion on behalf of the members of Eko-Ende land
prayed the court to order the defendant and Osun State Government to maintain status quo ante pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

In its ruling, the court granted interim injunction restraining the state government from elevating, installing or presenting staff of office to Chief Akinwale, Baale of Eko Ajala as recognized king in the state.

Ajiboye had argued that they were the owners of the land occupied by Baale of Eko Ajala, Chief Sunday Akinwale. He further stated in the suit that it was out of magnanimity that they granted land to Akinwale’s forebears dwell and also engage in subsistence farming.

“The state government and state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs are making surreptitious moves to take away our right and elevate the status of chief Akinwale without our consent and against ruling of the court of competent jurisdiction”.

According to an attached copy of the court ruling , an Osun State High Court sitting in Ikirun, which was presided over by Hon. Justice Olajide Falola in a ruling delivered on November 8th, 2018 had retrained the state government from installing or elevating Chief Akinwale to a full blown king or present a staff of office to him pending the determination of the suit filed by the monarch.

Falola also frowned at the counter affidavit filed by Akinwale for not carrying necessary signature of the deponent, in line with the dictate of law.

He hereby struck out the counter affidavit to the motion arguing that the application does not exist in the eyes of law.

According to him” The Counter Affidavit of the 4th Defendant/ Respondent filled on 18/9/2018 was not signed by the deponent, Chief Sunday Akinwale, who described himself as Baale of Eko Ajala (the 4th Defendant /Respondent himself).”

“This is an irredeemable tragedy and a fundamental vice that cannot be cured or waived. This court cannot look at the Counter Affidavit because it does not exist in the eyes of the law. The Counter Affidavit to the motion is therefore summarily struck out “.