Traditional council threatens to drag Senior Advocate of Nigeria to court over alleged derogatory publications against monarch

The Traditional Council of Ilawo of Egbaland has threatened to drag a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof Yemi Oke to court over publication describing the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Alexander Olusegun MacGregor as a coronet monarch engaging in systematic expansion of territories.

Penpushing reports that the traditional council of chiefs made the declaration to sue the legal practitioner in a statement issued by Chief (Dr). Sheriff Adams dated January 9, 2025, adding that he said write-up was aimed to pitch Ilawo community against Egba Ake.

The statement emphasized that it was so unfortunate that Oke, who is Bada Baamofin, a high chief will be a pawn in such chessboard, pointing out that it is sad that the learned Senior Advocate would display his ignorance of law in public

‘The attention of the council has been drawn to a publication made by Prof. Yemi Oke, SAN wherein the writer accuses some coronet Oba of engaging in systematic expansion of their territories. The learned professor in fact tagged such ‘‘systematic expansion’’ as fraud, and opined that such conducts must be curtailed – see paragraph 3 of the publication’, the statement read.

‘Professor Oke later particularized his publication and directed same to his Majesty, the Olu-of Orile Ilawo, His Majesty, Oba (Prof.) Alexander Olusegun Macgregor, classifying His Majesty’s stool as a coronet and maintaining that His Majesty be advised to restrict himself to “issues and matters within his Orile- Ilawo enclave”, otherwise, he might be invoking aggressive steps and other measures from us’, the council wrote’.

‘It is deducible that the publication was directed at His Majesty, the Olu Orile- Ilawo. A response to the said publication is there-for necessary. It is sad that the learned Senior Advocate would display his ignorance of law in public. What is more saddening is the fact that the writer also doubles as a professor of law which ordinarily would have qualified him as a dependable source of legal advice’.

‘The learned professor, silk ought to enlighten us as follows: Under the extant Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State (2021) a king can only be classified as a recognized or a minor (coronet) chief, recognized chiefs are those governed by part II of the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State; and whose stools are listed in the schedule of the law’

‘The stool of the Olu-Orile Ilawo is governed by part II of the law and listed its schedule: Elementary inference from (a) – (c) above reveals that the stool of Olu-Orile Ilawo is not a coronet. This is how it works in the academics’, the statement explained.

‘We are also aware that the said professor is an Egba chief – The Bada Bamofin of Egba Land, who ought to know that respect must be accorded to every king no matter his situation.  It is sad that a Bada Baamofin will throw caution to the wind and rush to the media to peddle misinformation, defamation, ignorance and threats.

Penpushing further reports that the council of chiefs said paragraph 4 of the publication evidenced the writer’s want of elementary knowledge regarding the principle of prescribed authority under the Ogun State Chiefs’ Law.

‘We are aware of the mischief behind the misleading statement. The statement tends to pitch Ilawo against Egba Ake, and it is so unfortunate that a Bada Baamofin of anywhere will be a pawn in such chessboard’

‘We boldly state that there is a cordial relationship between Ake and Ilawo and that we will not allow an uninformed writer to destroy same. A high chief is expected to know that a king rules over his territory and subjects. We will not say much on this. We strongly hope the above is sufficient for the learned professor as a hint to further study’.

Penpushing also reports that the statement explained that the territories of Olu- Orile Ilawo is well known, hence, it is honourable for the writer to ventilate his grievances before a court than to peddle falsehood and struggle to put two kingdoms at loggerhead

‘We have read paragraph (10) of the piece and considering the writer’s use of the phrase ‘‘… he might be invoking aggressive steps and other measures’’, we strongly hope that the writer does not contemplate physical aggression’, the statement read.

‘We also wish to bring the clear provisions of section 23(3) of the Obas and chiefs’ law to the attention of the writer. The said section provides as follows: Where a person has been approved as a recognised chief in accordance to this law, any person who…. .

‘Challenges or impugns the validity of the appointment of such recognised chief in a manner likely to promote feelings of hostility or enmity between different classes or sections of the public or in a manner likely to create fear and alarm to the public or likely to disturb the public peace shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for three years with hard labour and without an option of fine’.

‘The writer may consider the above quoted section viz-a-viz his reckless write- up and reconsider his thought. In all, we find the publication distasteful, inchoate and contemptuous. On behalf of his Majesty, the Olu Orile Ilawo, we demand an unreserved apology to be published in a national daily. Legal steps will be taken against the writer in the event that the writer remains unyielding.

Penpushing reports that Adams in the statement issued on behalf of the traditional ruler of the town urged Ilawo indigenes to remain calm and law abiding adding that the royal father has resolved to handling the matter in accordance with the law.

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