COURT DISMISSES SUIT AGAINST OBA TEJUOSO, DECLARES HIM AS AUTHORITY TO TAKE POSSESSION OF OGBONI HOUSE
Penpushing authoritatively gathered that, the claimants commenced this action by a writ of summons dated 30th of May, 2014. The said writ of summons and the accompanying statement of claim were subsequently amended with the leave of Honourable Court. By the said amended writ of summons dated 23rd of December, 2016, the claimants sought reliefs against the defendant
The claimants in case with suit number AB/151/2014 and writ of summons prayed the court to declare that the royal father has no authority to depose any of the chiefs, sought for order restraining the defendant, his agents, and anybody acting on his behalf, that he has no authority to lock or open the Ogboni House, order restraining any of his agents to trespass on the Ogboni House and order of damages in the sum of N10million for the unjustified closure of the Ogboni House.
The defence of the defendant as disclosed in his pleadings and given in evidence by his witnesses was that the claimants have no authority to institute this action. It was stated that the defendant is the prescribed authority for Oke-Ona Egbaland and that as the custodian of the tradition of Oke-Ona Egba, he has a stake in whatever is being done at Ogboni House and also responsibility in the management of the affairs of the community, including the Ogboni Traditional House.
The claimants were also alleged to have caused breakdown of order, within Ilugun Ogboni Traditional House having being threatening fire, hail and brimstone. Evidence was led to the effect that it was part of the defendant’s reconciliation efforts to regularize the appointments of the claimants as chiefs that led to the institution of this suit
In his judgment, Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje said the claims of the claimants totally lack in merit, and dismissed all prayers brought before the court, and equally awarded cost of N25, 000.00 in favour of the defendant.
‘In the end result, I hold that this action is totally lacking in merit. Consequently, an order is hereby made dismissing the claimants claim in its entirety. I award cost of N25, 000.00 in favour of the defendant’, Mabekoje declared.
Meanwhile, Akinrogun of Oke-Ona Egba, Chief Taofeek Lawal who admitted to be one of those chiefs, who opened the door of Ogboni House, explaining further that the team was led by Balogun Ilugun, Barrister Raph Oriade on the order of Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, who is the prescribed authority, adding that the opening of the door was done in the presence of police and other security agents’
‘Those misleading the public about the opening of the Ogboni House on the order of the prescribed authority of the community, were dissidents, currently facing 8 count charge at magistrate court, Isabo, Abeokuta’, he stated
