Lawyers have alerted Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of an alleged plot to subvert the Supreme Court decision on the recognised ruling houses to the Jegun of Idepe throne, Okitipupa, particularly concerning the Eretolu Abusoro (or Eretolu Jegun) Ruling House.

They petitioned the governor through their law firm Kunle Adetowubo & Co while acting on behalf of representatives of the Eretolu Abusoro Ruling House via an October 11, 2022 letter.

The petition stated that a rumour was rife in the public space within Idepe, Okitipupa Community of a plot to eradicate the name of the Eretolu Abusoro or Eretolu Jegun Ruling House as the third ruling house to the Jegun of Idepe Okitipupa Throne.

This, they argued, was contrary to the recommendation of the 1999 Rtd. Hon. Justice Adeloye Commission of Inquiry as well as decisions of the High Court of Ondo State, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, which had foreclosed the matter.

They stated that according to the Commission of Inquiry and the courts, the recognised ruling houses in Idepe, Okitipupa who have unfettered rights to aspire to the throne of Jegun of Idepe, Okitipupa are Akinjolokun, Moghojalye, Eretolu Abusoro/Jegun and the Akinnubi/Eretolu Moko.

They noted that the then Ondo State Government altered the the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendation for four ruling houses, but that this was restored by the high court, upheld by the appellate court and affirmed by the apex court in 2022.

Tracing the history of the matter, they said: “Sir, owing to anticipated fear based on credible rumour from a credible source that the then government of the day had concluded all plan to alter the recommendation of the Rtd. Hon. Justice Adeloye Commission of Inquiry to favour a non-recognised Ruling Family of Eretolu Moko, our client through their counsel approached the court to seek various Declaration and other reliefs to declare null and void as well as to set aside the alteration of the recommendation in Suit No: HOK/56/2004 Between Chief Babatunde Saanumi & Anor Vs. The Governor of Ondo State & 40rs.

“Judgment was delivered in the above Suit on March 27, 2017 in favour of our clients who were the claimants in the case.

“The court in the above judgment restored the confidence of our clients as the Third Ruling House to the Jegun of Idepe Throne and equally declared the action of government relating to the altering of the recommendation of the White Paper of Justice Adeloye Commission as Null and Void.

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“The 4th and 5th defendants in the above Suit having not been satisfied with the Judgment of court, appealed against the Judgment to the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/AK/195/2017. Between: High Chief Jacob Igbekele Akeremale & Anor. Vs. Chief Babatunde Sanumi & Anor (as 1st set of Respondents) & the Governor of Ondo State & 20rs (as second set of Respondents). The Appeal was dismissed on the 26th day of February, 2019.

“Again, being dissatisfied with the dismissal, the Appellants proceeded to the Supreme Court against the decision of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division in Appeal No: SC/826/2019 again, between same sets of respondents.

“The appellants’ application at the Supreme Court was also dismissed with N500,000 cost to the each sets of the Respondents. Thus the journey to eradicate the Name of our clients as the Third Ruling House to the Jegun of Idepe Okitipupa Throne became foreclosed.

“Based on the above, we respectfully request you Sir, to use Your good offices to prevail on all concerned to put an end to all the shenanigans been perpetrated behind the scene and through back and dark doors to forestall and silence the Judgment of court which till eternity if not upturned remained binding for all purposes and at all time which cannot be set aside or replaced by any judicial Commission of Inquiry.

“We humbly beseech you Sir, to let all concerned to know that our clients Eretolu Abusoro (Eretolu Jegun) Ruling House is the Third Ruling House to the Jegun of Idepe Throne, Okitipupa.”

The family had on August 22, petitioned the governor giving particulars of the rumour and making right demands.

Their petition was signed by High Chief Ogunsakin Folorunso, Pa Adesoji Akinnawonu, Chief Ikuedowo Seun, Pastor Megbowon Akinyemi and Elder Akinsulu Titus.

They said: “About the 1st day of August 2022, rumour was rife in town and quite explosive too, that the Hon. Justice C.E.T. Ajama Chieftaincy Commission has recommended four ruling houses namely: (1) Kalejaiye, (2) Moghojalye (3) Akinjokun and (4) Eretolu Moko branches as the ruling houses to rotate the Jegun Idepe Chieftaincy throne with the name Lagboja as the sole ruling house where the above four branches springs from.

Initially, our family received the rumours as heard in public space within Idepe, Okitipupa Community with a pinch of salt, but further events betrayed the rumours as some of the families named therein took it a step forward by dancing and rejoicing that their prayers had been heard and Ondo State Government has accepted the recommendations of the Hon. Justice C.E.T. Ajama Commission of Inquiry Recommendation and same will be declared soon.

“It is as a result of the above that our family at the family meeting held on the 2nd day of August, 2022 decided to write this letter by way of complaint to our Dear Governor and make the following demands:

“That Hon. Justice Adeloye Commission of Inquiry had earlier recognised our family as the 3rd ruling house that reigned as the Ninth Jegun of Idepe, Okitipupa.

“That the same Commission of Inquiry added Akinnubi/Eretolu Moko as the 4th ruling house without obliterating the Eretolu Abusoro ruling house as the 3rd ruling house.

“That the judgment of the court in Suit No: HOK/56/2004 confirms and affirms the position in paragraphs 1 and 2 above.

“That both appeals launched and lodged at the Court of Appeal, Akure and the Supreme Court at Abuja by the Eretolu Moko family were dismissed with costs and same has been paid by the Eretolu Moko family.

“That it will be inequitable not to implement and validate the judgement of court of records in favour of our family.

“That the only recommendation the Government of Ondo State can accept and uphold in line with the Idepe Chieftaincy is to accept the Eretolu Abusoro family as the 3rd ruling house within the hierarchy of ruling houses to the Idepe Chieftaincy throne.

“That the inclusion of Kalejaiye and Eretolu Moko family to the exclusion of Eretolu Abusoro in the order of ruling house in Idepe, Okitipupa is to put the doctrine of rule of law, equity and enforcing the judgement of courts of law into rabid test that may escalate the Idepe Chieftaincy Conundrum.