Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has officially presented staff of office to the new Aseyin, Oba Sefiu Olawale Oyebola, despite a pending court case.
The case, which is before an Oyo State High Court, is challenging the selection process for the new traditional ruler.
Governor Makinde went ahead yesterday, with the presentation of the staff of office, which some residents in Iseyin considered as a violation of the court order.
Recall that a legal practitioner, A.G. Adeniran during the week, urged the governor not to proceed with such act in the interest of justice, peace and good governance.
He contended that the state government under the leadership of Makinde should be conscious of the pendency of a suit no: HOI/04/2023 before the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Iseyin, over the contest for the stool of the ancient town.
In a statement made available in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, Adeniran, who is the counsel for Prince Abdulganiyu Oladeni Bolanle & Others Vs Seyi Makinde, Attorney-General of Oyo State, Mogaji Amusa Ariori, the head of the Akande, Olugbile and Majaro ruling houses and Ikolaba of Iseyin, who is representing the kingmakers, advised the state government to stay action on the development.
However, the legal practitioner maintained that: “as your excellency knows very well, whenever an injunction has been applied for and the same is pending before a court of competent jurisdiction, it is apposite for all concerned not to do anything that will affect the subject matter of the injunction until the motion for injunction has been heard and determined by the High Court even if no order of injunction has been made.”
According to Adeniran: “I humbly refer you to the case of Governor of Lagos State Vs Emeka Odumegu Ojukwu (1986) 1 NWLR (Pt. 18) 621/636H where the Supreme Court stated the law as follows:- “After a defendant has been notified of the pendency of a suit seeking an injunction against him, even though a temporary injunction be not granted, he acts at his peril and subject to the power of the court to restore the status wholly irrespective of the merits as may be ultimately decided.”
“At page 637B of the same case, the Supreme Court also stated as follows:- The rule is well settled both by the courts of England and of this country, that where a suit is brought to enjoin certain activities for example, the erection of a building or other structure, of which suit the defendant has notice the hands of the defendant are effectually tied pending a hearing and determination even though no restraining order or preliminary injunction be issued.”
“In view of the above state of the law, your excellency is hereby respectfully enjoined not to do anything to fill the vacancy now existing in the Aseyin of Iseyin chieftaincy until the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction now pending before the Iseyin High Court has been heard and determined by the High Court.”
“A copy of the motion on notice which has been served on your excellency as well as all the other defendants. You are the father of all, and we most respectfully urge you to hold the balance evenly between my clients and their opponents in this case by not allowing their opponents to steal a match against my clients by allowing them to fill the vacancy now existing in the Aseyin of Iseyin chieftaincy when my clients’ motion for injunction is still pending before the High Court,” he added.
Adeniran explained: “In the said suit we are claiming against the defendants therein as follows:- A declaration that under the native law and custom of Yoruba land, and of Iseyin in particular, it is the descendants of the founder of a town that are entitled to produce the traditional ruler of that town.”
“A declaration that it is the family of the Claimants who are the descendants of Ogbolu, the founder of Iseyin and whose family produced the 1st to 11th Aseyins of Iseyin who are entitled to produce Aseyins of Iseyin.”
“An order directing the Defendants to fill the vacancy now existing in the Aseyin of Iseyin chieftaincy by inviting the family of the claimants to present the next candidates for appointment as the Aseyin of Aseyin.”
“An order of this Honourable Court setting aside the 1964 Aseyin of Iseyin Chieftaincy Declaration which recognised the three ruling houses of Akande, Olugbile and Majaro which are not descendants of Ogbolu, the founder of Iseyin and which are not the lineal descendants of the 1st to 11th Aseyins of Iseyin for being contrary to native law and custom of Yorubaland and of Iseyin in particular.”
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from nominating, selecting, appointing or approving the appointment of anyone who is not from the family of the Claimants as the next Aseyin of Iseyin.”
“An order of this Honourable Court setting aside any purported nomination, selection, appointment or approval of appointment or any other step that has been taking by any of the defendants to appoint anyone who is not from the family of the claimants as the next Aseyin of Iseyin.”
“Even though the defendants to the suit have filed some papers to defend the suit, up till this moment, the High Court has not heard not to talk of determine the several motions for interlocutory injunction filed by the claimants to restrain the Oyo State government and all the other defendants from installing anyone to fill the vacancy now existing in the Aseyin of Iseyin chieftaincy.”
“However,in spite of these, my clients noticed that the town of Iseyin is already agog with preparations being made by the families of Akande, Olugbile and Majaro who are being represented in the suit by the 4th defendant for installation of a new Aseyin,” the statement concluded.
Handing the staff of office to the new Aseyin, Makinde noted that developing Iseyin town more is his major concern, adding that the town had great potential for growth and development.
“Iseyin is a town with great potentials, and I am committed to working with the people of Iseyin to harness this potential for the benefit of all,” he said.
He highlighted the importance of education and youth empowerment in the development of the town.
Governor Makinde said that his administration was already working on several initiatives to promote education and youth empowerment in Iseyin.
These include the construction of new schools, the provision of scholarships for students from Iseyin, and the establishment of a vocational training center.
“Education and youth empowerment are the foundation of a prosperous future for Iseyin,” he said.
“With the right investment in these areas, we can ensure that our young people have the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.”
Governor Makinde also said that he would work to attract investment to Iseyin, with a focus on the agricultural sector.
Speaking after his presentation of staff of office, the new Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Olawale Oyebola, expressed his gratitude to Governor Makinde for his support and the presentation of the staff of office.
He said that this was a significant moment for him and the people of Iseyin, and that he was committed to working with the governor to promote the development of the town.
“I am deeply grateful to Governor Makinde for his support, and for the confidence he has shown in me by presenting me with the staff of office,” said Oba Oyebola.
Oba Oyebola went on to say that he would work hard to live up to the expectations of the people of Iseyin, adding that he would work to promote peace and unity in the town, and to foster economic development.
He also expressed his commitment to maintaining the traditions and culture of Iseyin.
“As Aseyin of Iseyin, I will ensure that the people of Iseyin are proud of their heritage and that they continue to uphold the values and traditions that make our town unique,” he said.
He thanked the people of Iseyin for their support and pledged to work for their benefit.
