TheCable

A high court in Oyo state has voided the process which led to the installation of 21 kings by Abiola Ajimobi, the governor.

In her ruling on Friday, Olajumoke Aiki, a judge, declared the review of the 1957 olubadan chieftaincy declaration and other related chieftaincies in Ibadan land “as unconstitutional, illegal, null, void and of no effect”.

The review was recommended by a panel set up by the state government.

In May, the governor set up a judicial commission of inquiry to review the existing law.

When the panel submitted its report in August, it recommended, among other things, the elevation of the 21 monarchs.

Consequently, Ajimobi administered oaths on the kings at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, on August 24, 2017.

The 21 kings comprise eight members of the olubadan-in-council elevated from high chiefs to beaded crown wearing traditional rulers, while the remaining 13 were village heads.

The installation had sparked a crisis between Ajimobi and Saliu Adetunji, olubadan of Ibadan.

Rashidi Ladoja, a former governor of the state who is a title holder, had headed to the court to challenge the action of Ajimobi.

In his ruling, the judge held that wearing of beaded crowns was beyond the purview of sections 10,12 and 25 of the Oyo state chiefs law.

He said section 25 of the chiefs law could not be treated in isolation to the provisions of parts two and three of the chiefs laws.

He also said provisions of parts two and three of the chiefs laws, particularly sections 10, 12 and 25 did not give power to the governor to review the Olubadan chieftaincy declaration.

According to the court, Ajimobi exercised his power beyond the constitution and the provisions of the chiefs laws made by the house of assembly.