Obaship Tussle: Commissioner Warned Against Interference

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Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Kuye Ademorin, has been warned against interfering in the obaship tussle in Iworo Kingdom, Olorunda Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.

The solicitor to Prince Oladele Kosoko, one of the contestants for the vacant stool, who claimed to have been elected to fill the vacant seat, C.C. Mbajike and Co. Legal Practitioners, in a letter to the commissioner warned that Ademorin might be guilty of contempt of court if he should interfere in a case already in court.

The letter dated 10 August, 2011 and received by the office of the Local Government Commissioner on 12 August, 2011 said there was the need to maintain the status quo until the court determines the case before it.

The letter signed by Chris Mbajike reads, “We note with utmost dismay that some sections of the community in total disregard of the rule of law are determined to put pressure on your good self (commissioner) as well as on the Chairman of Olorunda LCDA to commence another exercise for the filling of the stool that our client was duly and legally elected.

“This is in total disregard of the pending case on the subject matter. We, therefore, advise you not to allow your good self to be pressurised into committing any act capable of undermining the powers of the court in the adjudicatory process as such will amount to being in contempt of the court.”

Kosoko’s solicitor explained that the stool of Iworo Kingdom became vacant in April 2010 after the burial of late Oba J.O. Ajose, Arojomo II of Oniworo of Iworo Kingdom.

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“By the public notice dated 27 April, 2010, the Igagbaji ruling house was called to nominate interested candidates to fill the vacant stool. Thereafter, some candidates, including our client nominated by the Igagbaji ruling family contested for the stool.

“At the end of the exercise, our client was duly elected by the regent-in-council and the white cap chiefs as the new oba-elect of Iworo. At the conclusion of the exercise, the Olorunda LCDA by a letter dated 6 May, 2011, reference number OLCDA/CC/928/10/04, notified your good self of the nomination of our client as the Oba-elect of Iworo Kingdom,” the letter alleged.

The letter stated that some aggrieved parties were not satisfied with the election of Kosoko and that as a law abiding citizen, “our client had to approach the court to determine the legality or otherwise of his emergence as the Oba-elect of Iworo Kingdom.

“The case is pending at the Badagry High Court in suit number BD/60/2011 in which your good self and all listed persons are defendants.”

In the suit file at the Badagry High Court on 24 May, 2011, the claimant, Prince Oladele Kosoko, joined High Chief Babatunde Afuwape, Mr. R.S. Kasali, Chairman, Olorunda LCDA; Commissioner for Local Government; Attorney General of Lagos State; Governor Babatunde Fashola and three others as defendants.

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