The Ondo State High Court sitting in a Akure has struck out an application that sought to stop the installation of His Royal Majesty, Oba Johnson Kayode Ajomole as the OJOGBARIAKA of Ilado Community in Akure North Local Government Area of the State.
The fresh application was filed in a new Suit marked AK/87m/2022, instituted by one Chief Kehinde Afelumo and members of his self-styled OJOGBABIAKA Family of Ilado Community.
The presiding Judge, Justice O. Akintan-Osadebay, while granting Mr. Afelumo and the other Applicants leave (or right) to apply for prohibition over Oba Ajomole’s OJOGBARIAKA Chieftaincy, however refused and struck out the prayer two in the application seeking to restrain the state government from presenting staff of office to Oba Ajomole.
Reacting, the lawyer to the new Ojogbariaka of Ilado, Mr Femi Emmanuel Emodamori, said “we consider it imperative to notify members of the public, as a follow-up to our earlier press statement on the subject matter, that a fresh application to stop the Ondo State Government from installing His Royal Majesty, Oba Johnson Kayode Ajomole (J.P) as the OJOGBARIAKA of Ilado Community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, has been struck out by the State High Court on 21st November, 2022.
“The same set of people had just about a week ago, flooded the press with an inaccurate claim that the State High Court had granted an ex parte Order restraining the State Government from approving and installing Oba Johnson Kayode Ajomole as “OBA OJOGBABIAKA” of Ilado Community.
“We immediately issued a rebuttal as Counsel to the Kabiyesi, stating that Hon. Justice Ajama Commission of Enquiry into Chieftaincy Disputes in Ondo State recommended the upgrading of the Olu of Ilado chieftaincy to OJOGBARIAKA of Ilado, and not OBA OJOGBABIAKA of Ilado as falsely claimed by Mr. Afelumo and his cohorts. We equally published the appointment letter issued to Oba Johnson Kayode Ajomole by the State Government as the “OJOGBARIAKA” of Ilado.
“Apparently realizing the futility of relying on the purported ex parte order to stop the installation of Oba Johnson Kayode Ajomole, since the Chieftaincy name stated therein is not that of the Kabiyesi, the self-styled OJOGBABIAKA Family under the arrowhead of Mr. Ifedayo Afelumo, who claims to be the “authentic” Olu of Ilado, jettisoned their earlier Suit AK/78m/2022 and filed the fresh Suit AK/87m/2022, seeking the same reliefs against Oba Johnson Kayode Ajomole and officials of the State Government as well as the Secretary to Akure North Local Government. They did not stop at that.
“They equally filed an application in the new Suit AK/87m/2022 seeking, as prayer 2 therein, “AN ORDER of restraining the 1st to 4th respondents from approving, announcing, installing and recognizing the 5th Respondent as the OBA OJOGBARIAKA of Ilado and restraining the 5th respondent from parading himself as OBA OJOGBARIAKA chieftaincy pending the hearing of the substantive application and final determination of this suit”.
“The Ondo State High Court presided over by the erudite Jurist, Hon. Justice O. Akintan-Osadebay, while granting Mr. Afelumo and the other Applicants leave (or right) to apply for prohibition over Oba Ajomole’s OJOGBARIAKA Chieftaincy, however refused and struck out the said prayer 2 in the application seeking the restraining Order.
“The Certified True Copy of the Enrollment of Order is hereby attached. With this latest failed attempt to restrain the State Government from recognizing, approving and installing Oba Johnson Kayode Ajomole as the OJOGBARIAKA of Ilado, it is clear that there is no legal impediment whatsoever stopping the completion of the much-heralded installation rites of Oba J. K Ajomole as the “OJOGBARIAKA” of Ilado.
“There is certainly an end to mischief and misinformation, but the expectations of those who stand by the truth, for the truth and on the truth shall never be cut off. As the Kabiyesi acknowledges, the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will,” said Emodamori.
