Okeigbo: Court okays family's right to challenge Oba's installation

THE legal tussle on the Oluoke of Okeigbo in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State continued as an Ondo High Court gave the Odo-Eleyowo Ruling House the go ahead to challenge the installation of the last traditional ruler of the town.The court dismissed the application filed by the Fasawe family and other defendants to the suit seeking to quash the suit challenging the installation of the late Oba Timothy Fasawe as the Oluoke of Okeigbo.Apart from the Fasawe family, other defendants to the suit instituted by the Odo-Eleyowo Ruling House were the 14 traditional kingmakers, the Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government, the state Executive Council and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.The late Fasawe was installed as Oluoke by the immediate past administration in the state after the Oba Odukunle who had joined his ancestors.Displeased with the action of the government, the Odo-Eleyowo Ruling House through their counsel, Mr Dele Thomas, filed a suit asking the court for a declaration that Fasawe was not a member of the ruling house.The contention of the ruling house through its representatives including Prince Babatunde Faso-gbon, Julius Fasogbon, Olabowale Fasogbon and Oyeleke Fasogbon, was that the appointment of Oba Fasawe breached the tradition of the town.Particularly, they argued that Oba Fasawe, not being a member of the Odo-Eleyowo Ruling House and not of the male line as provided for by the new Chieftaincy Declaration, was not qualified for the throne.Since the late Fasawe has joined his ancestors, the ruling house posited that they were ready to present Prince Babatunde Fasogbon as the representative of the house.But the defendants, through their counsel, Chief A.O Jejelowo, filed a motion seeking to quash the suit and its averment in its entirety.The defendants argued that the suit, being a chieftaincy one, should have been brought not later than seven days after the installation of Fasawe.But Thomas in his reply said the suit was not a chieftaincy dispute but to determine the membership of a ruling house.He argued that the suit was not challenging the nomination, selection, approval and appointment of Fasawe as the Oluoke, but the preservation of the right of the family to the throne, urging the court to discountenance the application.In his ruling, Justice Sidiq upheld the argument of Thomas and dismissed the application of the defendants, adding that the plaintiffs have a valid suit before the court.
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