Court orders immediate removal of Ondo State Monarch

The traditional ruler of Oka community in the Ondo West Local Government Area of the state, Oba Noah Ijelu has been relieved off his duties by anĀ Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure.

In the judgment delivered by Justice Aderemi Adegoroye, the court ordered the immediate installation of a new monarch of the community.

According to the judgment, the sacked monarch, Ijelu, was not a member of any of the two ruling houses in the town – the Adesinmirinwa and Olupona ruling houses.

The court also held that the Adesinmirinwa and Olupona ruling houses were the only houses to nominate candidates to the throne of the Oloja of Oka, adding that the ascension to the throne of Oloja of Oka was by rotation between the two ruling houses.

The court also ruled thatĀ  the fourth defendant, the Osemawe of Ondo kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo, and the fifth defendant, High Chief Lisa J.A Akinkunmi, who represented the kingmakers in Oka town, immediately commence the traditional rites to install a new Oloja of Oka.

The two ruling houses had filed a suit, praying the court to hold that there were only two ruling houses in Oka community.

The urged the court to declare that the Olupona Ruling House shouldĀ  present the candidate for the Oloja after the demise ofĀ  the Oba Dada AdedimejiĀ  Akinsoyinu from the Adesinmirinwa Ruling House.

The claimants had also prayed the court to set aside any attempt to install the sixth defendant (Ijelu), as well as restrained him from parading himself as the Oloja of the community.

Meanwhile, it was gathered on Sunday that traditional rites preceding the installation of a new monarch in the community has started.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )