…monarch dragged to court
The Olomodulawe chieftaincy title has sparked crisis in Ilawe Ekiti in Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area as two indigenes, Bakare Agbaje and Agbaje Saliu has sued the Alawe, Oba Ajibade Alabi at an Ikere Ekiti High Court.
The two plaintiffs who sued for themselves and on behalf of their families are praying the court to remove Idowu Ibiowotosi, the first defendant, as the Olomodulawe.
They also prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining Ibiowotosi from parading himself as the Olomodulawe of Oke Emo Quarters, Ilawe Ekiti.
Also joined in the suit are Chief Gbenga Agbona, Kayode Balogun, Joseph Akiri who are second to fourth defendants.
The claimants averred that the process for the nomination and installation of Ibiowotosi contravened the native law, the custom and the applicable chiefs law.
In a second further amended statement of claim, the claimants averred that Olomodulawe chieftaincy title exclusively belonged to three branches: Gbadamosi, Fatimehin and Fajemisin.
They averred that prior to the purported installation and appointment of the first defendant, the last two Olomodulawes were from Gbadamosi and Fatimehin branches.
They claimed it was “the turn of Fajemisin branch of claimants’ family to produce a candidate to fill the stool.”
The claimants averred that Ibiowotosi “is not a member of their family and as such not eligible for the chieftaincy title.”
“The first defendant wrongfully and illegally held himself out to be appointed as Olomodulawe without ensuring that the prior written approval of the prescribed authority had been obtained before his purported appointment.”
The claimants prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining Ibiowotosi from parading himself as the Olomodulawe of Oke Emo Quarters, Ilawe Ekiti.
But the defendants in their amended statement of defence averred that Oba Alabi was substituted by the order of the court made on January 22, 2013 to replace the late Oba Adeyemi Ademileka II, who died during the pendency of this suit.
Contrary to claims by the claimants, the defendants said the Olomodulawe family was made up of eight branches: Ibiowotisi, Faje, Apelona, Saribi, Fajemisin, Fatimehin, Gbadamosi and Ola.
The defendants maintained that the stool was not rotated among the branches of the family.
“Any male descendant from the aforesaid eight branches of the family is entitled to contest for and fill the Olomodulawe Chieftaincy whenever it is vacant. This was confirmed by the first claimant and other members of the family at various times.
“Chief Gbadamosi Olomodulawe and Chief Zaccheaus Fatimehin were not installed and appointed as Olomodulawes on the basis of rotation among the branches of the family, rather they were both installed and appointed as Olomodulawe on the basis of being male children and contesting for the said chieftaincy.”