The State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti on Thursday declared His Royal Majesty, Oba Gabriel Ayodele Adejuwon, Adetila Ilufemiloye I, the Onisan Of Isan Ekiti Kingdom as the authentic and recognised traditional ruler of the community after seven years of court’s trial.
Dismissing the Claimants grounds of the petition filed by the Claimant, Prince Kolawole Oluwasiku Ademola on Thursday, the presiding judge at the Ekiti State High Court 10, Justice Blessing O. Ajileye described the claimant’s grounds as one not substantial, strange and alien to the laws of Ekiti State Government.
Justice Ajileye proofed in her over 50 pages of judgement which took her over 3 hours to read, that the six Kingmakers which performed the selection roles are the authentic ones recognized by the government. The Court also ruled that the processes which produced Oba Adejuwon as the authentic Onisan Of Isan Ekiti Kingdom were in order and regular.
Justice Blessing O. Ajileye further confirmed that the 6 Kingmakers which performed the selection exercise of Oba Adejuwon before it was approved and appointed by the government and given staff and instrument of office under the 1984 Chieftaincy Declaration of Isan Ekiti are the authentic ones.
The judge however listed the six authentic Kingmakers to be High Chief O S. Balogun, the Onirefin of Irefin quarters; High Chief I O. Oyebi, the Arunsin of Ogilolo quarters; High Chief Adedayo Alabi, the Olu of Ilusajumu quarters; High Chief R.S. Oluwatoke, the Adara of Adisa quarters and High Chief S.A. Oladimeji, the Obaisa of Ilale quarters.
The Court also held that the appointment of Oba Adejuwon was regular, legal, constitutional and in accordance with the Natives Law and Customs of Isan Ekiti Kingdom.
Justice Ajileye also held that it is the Chieftaincy Declaration of Isan Ekiti Kingdom of 1984 that was registered and approved by the government and not that of the 1957.
Adding, Justice Alijeye confirmed that there are two things that should be noted in making any declaration and these two includes, “that a declaration must be approved by the government, and secondly, it must be registered, and therefore held that the two conditions were complied with, in selecting and approving Prince Gabriel Adejuwon as Oba and the Onisan Of Isan Ekiti Kingdom”.
Justice Ajileye also ruled against the Claimant, Prince Oluwasiku Ademola who challenged Oba Adejuwon “that the 1957 declaration upon which his petition stands has been revoked by the government, and so, the declaration cannot be used in the appointment of an Onisan of Isan Ekiti Kingdom”.
Speaking with the Counsel for the Defendant, the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti State, Chief Dayo Apata, SAN, who stood in for the 1st to 5th Defendants but was represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Barrister Julius Ajibare, appealed to the other parties and the Claimants to shield their swords and allow peace to reign in Isan Ekiti community as government will not allow any crisis in the community or the current peace been enjoyed in the State to be truncated.
The Attorney General thanked God who gave them victory in the case and described the judgement as a well researched one. He also called on them to cooperate with Oba Adejuwon to move Isan Ekiti community forward.
Buttressing his point further, the Attorney General explained that the appointment of an Oba is specifically based on the Chieftaincy Declaration adopted by the government at any given time.
Meanwhile, reacting to the judgement in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr Gabriel Ayodele Adejuwon, CFR, FCTI, JP Adetila Ilufemiloye I, the Onisan Of Isan Ekiti Kingdom expressed his gratitude to God Almighty who helped him to sail through the court trial which commenced since January, 2017 abd ended June 6th, 2024, totaling seven and half years.
In his own words, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon said, “at last, I won the case, the case of Prince Kolawole Ademola Oluwasiku was dismissed through the judgement because he is the contender, he is the Claimant who has been doing that”.
Continuing, Oba Adejuwon said, “he has been struggling with me for the throne but to the glory of God today, the judgement has been made. All glory to Almighty God and this victory is to the entire Isan Ekiti Kingdom and the people that have supported me”.
“Since I became the Onisan Of Isan Ekiti, tremendous development and growth has happened in the community in the last seven and half years. I am well accepted by the whole community except those who challenged my installation as a King. They are my family members. At least we contested together but they stood as rebels but today, God Almighty has already given me the victory.
“I have already extended my hand of fellowship to them but they are always reluctant and adamant to it. But I will still continue to extend my hand of fellowship to them”, he assured.
Reacting to the court judgement, the Claimant’s lawyer, Barrister Oluwayomi Ojo who represented Prince Oluwasiku Ademola, said, “he has done what he is supposed to do. I have told the Judge to make available to us the judgement. When we get the judgement, we will be able to know the next step to take. I believe we have very good grounds to challenge that judgement.
He added that he would consult his client to decide whether to appeal or not. “I am a counsel. I am not the litigant. The litigant is the one that will decide whether he wants to go on appeal or not. I won’t be able to decide that”, he submitted.