Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has ignored two different orders of an Ogun State High Court, sitting in Ayetoro, Yewa North Area of Ogun State and legal advices from the State Ministry of Justice, over approval and installation of Aboro of Ibeseland.

Justice P.F. Oduniyi of the State High Court, had at different rulings, barred the Governor of Ogun State, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Egbado (Yewa) North Local Government from ‘approving, appointing or installing’ the Aboro of Ibeseland.

In a clear disregard for the orders of the Court, the Ogun State Executive Committee, Monday, approved the appointment of one Prince Oluwaseyi Rotimi Mulero as the Aboro of Ibeseland.

The approval was contained in a statement issued, Tuesday, by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, a copy of which was made available to journalists.

“According to the Governor’s Spokesman, the vacant stools that were approved to be filed include Prince Saka Adelola Matemilola as the new Olowu of Owu in Abeokuta North Local Government; the Aboro of Ibese, Yewa North Lg, will be occupied by Prince Oluwaseyi Rotimi Mulero, while Prince Rufai Adeleke Adeyalu was approved as the new Lemo of Ode-Lemo in Sagamu Local Government Area,” the statement read in part.

In a suit number HCY/07/202, Justice Oduniyi had in December, 2020, issued a restraining order against Mulero who is the 5th Defendant in the case, from parading himself as an Oba-Elect, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The Governor of Ogun State, 6th Defendant; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, 7th Defendant; and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, 8th Defendant, were also restrained from approving, appointing or installing Mulero as the Aboro of Ibeseland.

The order reads, “In the circumstances of this case, I am of the considered view that a restraining order is necessary in this case as the 6th - 8th Respondents/Defendants are interested in taking steps that will jeopardise the interest of the Claimant/Applicant before the determination of the substantive suit between the parties.

“On the foregoing, the 5th Defendant (Mulero) is restrained from parading himself as Oba-Elect of Ibese land pending the determination of this suit, the 6th - 8th Defendants are also restrained from approving, appointing or installing the 5th Defendant as the Aboro of Ibese Land pending the final determination of this suit between the parties.”

The case was instituted by one Prince Alexander Aliu Adegbemiro Idowu.

In a similar case before the same judge, marked HCY/10/2019, Justice Oduniyi had in September 2019, ordered all parties in the suit to maintain status qou, pending the determination of a motion on notice.

The case which was filed by another aspirant to the stool, Prince Azeez Adedimeji Idowu, also had Mulero as the 1st Defendant and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as the 7th Defendant.

The motion on notice dated September 2, 2019 was yet to be determined as at the last adjourned date.

Two preliminary objections filed by both Mulero and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs bothering on the jurisdiction of the court, were both dismissed on 14th July, 2022.

“Notice of Preliminary Objection dated and filed on 24/3/22 fails and is accordingly dismissed as lack in merit,” Justice Oduniyi had ruled.

The trial on both cases has been adjouned to 25th of October, 2022.

Ogun State Ministry of Justice, had also issued legal advices to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, on the need for the State Executive Council to direct a new process of selecting an Oba-Elect for the vacant stool of Aboro of Ibese, from the ruling house.

The first legal advice was dated June 17, 2020 with reference number G.759/359; while the second legal advice with reference number, G.759T/454, was dated November 2, 2020.

“… that the meeting of the kingmakers held on 25th March, 2019 is null and void and the Executive Council should be advised to set aside same and direct that the exercise be conducted from the level of the Ruling House,” the advice reads in part.