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A contender for the stool of Ayangburen, the traditional ruler of Ikorodu kingdom in Lagos State, Odupitan Eniola, has asked an Ikeja High Court to commence contempt proceeding against the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and nine others for disobedience of the court’s order.
Eniola, who is from the Lambo branch of the Lasunwon chieftaincy family, alleged that Ambode and others disobeyed Justice Olabisi Ogungbesan’s order stopping the coronation of Chief Kabiru Shotobi as the new Ayangburen of Ikorodu kingdom.
Justice Ogungbesan had last Friday ordered that the ongoing ceremony to crown Shotebi, as the new Ayangburen of Ikorodu, which had been scheduled for Saturday, August 15 be put on hold.
Ogungbesan, who is a vacation judge, also restrained the Lagos State Governor, or anyone acting under his authority, from going ahead with the Saturday coronation.
The coronation ceremony, however, reportedly held last Saturday as scheduled despite the court’s order.
Following the development, Eniola through his lawyer filed a notice of consequences of disobedience of order of court against Governor Ambode, Chief Shotobi, and others.
Others mentioned in the notice of disobedience of court orders dated August 19, included; Chief Zacheus Oludele Odusoga, Afolabi Adekanyaoja, Karimu Ore, Kolawole Adaraloye, Ikorodu Local Government and Secretary, Ikorodu Chieftaincy Committee.
Also mentioned were the Permanent Secretary & Solicitor General, Lagos Ministry of Justice and the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, Lagos.
Governor Ambode, has however urged the court to reverse the order it made last Friday.
Represented by Mr. S.A Quadri, a state counsel, the governor urged the judge to vacate the order, saying it was made in error.
Quadri, who described the ex-parte application that led to the order as an abuse of court processes, pointed out that the order was made after Shotebi had already been given the staff of office.
According to Quadri, former Governor Babatunde Fashola had, on May 26, 2015, installed Shotebi as the new Ayangburen after Shotebi was presented to him at the 17th meeting of the State Executive Council held on May 25, 2015.
Quadri added that, contrary to the facts presented before the court, the event which took place on Saturday was not the coronation per se but a mere social gathering to celebrate Shotebi’s installment as a monarch.
“The ceremony which took place on August 15, is a mere fun fare organised by the Ikorodu community and the 1st defendant (Shotebi) to celebrate his ascension to the throne of his fore fathers and to accord notable distinguished personalities with chieftaincy titles.
“The 1st defendant was surprised when it became news that a ruling was delivered on the 14th day of August 2015 pursuant to an ex parte application restraining the 1st defendant and other defendants from proceeding with the coronation fixed for the 15th day of August.
“The ex-parte ought not to have been granted if the afore said facts were revealed to the honourable court.
“The order was obtained by misrepresentation of facts and should be set aside,” one Usman Danboyi, a Chief State Counsel, said in the affidavit filed in support of Ambode’s application.
The lawyer for the Ikorodu kingmakers, Mr. Olusegun Fabunmi, also raised a preliminary objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case.
Fabunmi described the suit as an abuse of court processes, claiming that the subject matter had already been determined by Justice M.A. Savage of the Ikorodu Division of the court on February 5, 2015.
Fabunmi urged the court to vacate the order restraining Shotebi from exercising authority in the capacity of Ayangburen.
The applicant, Eniola, through his lawyer, Mr. Joseph Okobiemen, had approached Justice Ogungbesan seeking an order to halt the coronation of Shotebi.
Eniola claimed that it was the turn of the Lambo branch of the Lasunwon chieftaincy family, from which he came, to present the next Ayangburen, adding that he had been nominated by the family to be crowned as the new Ayangburen at meetings held on September 7 and 21, 2014.
According to him, the Adegorushe family had already benefitted after Shotebi became the Odofin of Ikorodu kindgom, following a court judgment on April 1, 2009 in a suit marked IKD/57/2007.
The judge has adjourned the matter till October 6, 2015 for mention.
Culled from This Day Live
