An Osun State High Court presided over by the state Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, yesterday rejected a suit seeking an order of the court to set aside the 1980 declaration in the process of enthronement of new Ooni of Ife. Sooko Adegoke and Prince Marcus Adebola Akimoyero had on behalf of Lafogido Ruling House of Ile-Ife, dragged Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the Obalufe of Ile-Ife, Oba Solomon Omisakin (now late) and Lowa of Ife, Chief Joseph Ijaodola, to court on the decision to allow only Giesi Ruling House present the next Ooni.
At the resume hearing of the case, counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Soji Oyetayo, sought an order of the court to stop the defendants from embarking on processes to select the new Ooni from Giesi Ruling House because of the alleged flaw in the 1980 declaration.
The counsel argued that the declaration was lopsided, unjust, unconstitutional and unfair and prayed the court to disregard it. However, counsel to Aregbesola, who is the first respondent, Mr. Wale Afolabi, said: “The suit filed by the plaintiffs was incompetent after 35 years that the declaration has been made.”
