An Ondo state high court has nullified the appointment of Oba Babajide Lawrence Oluwole as the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo in the Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo LGA of Ondo, and has ordered his removal from office.
The court declared that the monarch was not a member of the ruling house, which was supposed to present a candidate to fill the then-vacant stool of the town, and as a result, he was not qualified to be presented as the kingship candidate.
The case was filed by two princes, Rufus Adekanye and Temitope Adeoye, who challenged the enthronement of a monarch by the Ondo state government, stating that the stool is still vacant.
In delivering the verdict, Justice Ademola Enikuemehin agreed with the claimants that Oba Oluwole was not a member of the ruling house, and therefore not qualified to be proposed as a candidate for the vacant stool of or be made the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo.
The court also granted an injunction restraining “the fifth defendant from or further parading himself or allowing himself to be paraded as or accorded the rights and privileges pertaining to the person, title and office of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo.”
