An Akure Magistrate’s Court has issued arrest warrants for two traditional rulers in Igodan Lisa and Irele communities.
The monarchs, Oba Ademola Idowu Oloworiyibi, the Olufon of Irele, and Adeyemi Akinde, the Olu of Igodan Lisa were said to have illegally paraded themselves as traditional rulers.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had last week ordered the arrest of the monarchs for violating official procedures for selection and enthronement of monarchs as enacted in the Chieftaincy laws of the state.
A statement by Kola Adeniyi, media aide to Ondo Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Sir Charles Titiloye, said the court order was made following an application brought before the court by Titiloye.
In the suit, the embattled monarchs were alleged to have unlawfully assumed the Chieftaincy titles of Olofun of Irele and Olu of Igodan Lisa contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ondo state.
They were said to have permitted themselves to be installed as well as parading themselves in royal regalia without the approval of the Ondo State Executive Council and in contravention of sections 15(1) and (2) of the Chiefs Law of Ondo State.
Trial of the both suspects was stalled because of their absence in court.
Presiding Magistrate, F. A. Aduroja, directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest and produce both suspects on the next adjourned date.
The case was adjourned to September 19th, 2022.
Last week, Oba Ademola who spoke through his Personal Assistant, Ode Adewale, said the Irele customs do not require writing any letter to the government before picking a king.
He said, “We do not need to follow any process than to consult the oracle and anybody Ifa oracle picks, is who will be installed as the king. We have never done any contrary to our customs.
“There are some petitions written to the government which has been causing problems. Three people who indicated interest wrote petitions to security agencies.
“We did not write any letter. We do it our way. The whole town will consult the Oracle, anybody picked will be crowned. We have done that. There was no obstruction to the process. We have done it and it is done.”