A Court of Appeal has ordered the removal of the Oluloro of Iloro-Ekiti, Oba James Oluwafemi Olugbesoye, from the traditional throne.
The judgment upheld the earlier decision of the Ekiti State High Court which had ruled for the monarch’s removal.
The case was linked to the traditional rites required under the customs of Iloro-Ekiti.
While the court accepted that Oba Olugbesoye was properly selected and appointed, the plaintiff’s lawyer said the monarch did not complete the traditional rites required before becoming king.
The development has reportedly caused tension in Iloro-Ekiti, with supporters of the case welcoming the appellate court’s decision.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Falade Olasunkanmi, said the Certified True Copy of the judgment was expected to be released.
He explained that the court did not reject the process through which Oba Olugbesoye was chosen and appointed.
Rather, the dispute centred on the traditional requirements that were expected to be completed after his selection.
The monarch’s legal team, however, disagreed with the decision and said it would challenge the judgment at the Supreme Court.
Counsel to Oba Olugbesoye, Ezekiel Agunbiade, said the defence had not yet received the certified copy of the judgment but had listened to the ruling when it was delivered.
According to the lawyer, the court found that the monarch had been properly selected and appointed but ruled that there was not enough evidence before it to establish that he completed the required traditional rites and ceremony.
Agunbiade also disputed the court’s position on the evidence presented by the monarch.
He said the defence had submitted about 32 photographs relating to the installation and coronation of Oba Olugbesoye.
The lawyer confirmed that the monarch’s team had filed a notice of appeal at the Supreme Court on the same day the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment.
He added that an application seeking a stay of execution was also filed two days after the ruling in an effort to prevent the judgment from being enforced while the case is being challenged.
Reacting to the judgment, Oba Olugbesoye said he was surprised by the decision and questioned the authority of the people who instituted the case against him.
The monarch maintained that the people behind the case were not kingmakers or candidates in the selection process and therefore, in his view, should not have been able to bring the matter before the court.
He also insisted that he completed the traditional requirements for his installation and that his coronation was properly conducted and documented.
Oba Olugbesoye said his coronation took place in Iloro-Ekiti during the COVID-19 period and was attended by several traditional rulers and government officials.
He claimed that more than 40 traditional rulers attended his installation and that photographic evidence existed to support his account.
The monarch also said the present Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, was Secretary to the State Government at the time of his coronation and was present at the event.
He further stated that the late former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Bisi Egbeyemi, presented him with his staff of office during the ceremony.
Another part of the dispute concerns traditional rites performed at the palace of the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti.
Oba Olugbesoye explained that the histories and customs of Ijero-Ekiti and Iloro-Ekiti are closely connected. He said some traditional practices involving the two communities have existed for many years.
The monarch also referred to historical accounts which, according to him, showed that the first Oluloro performed part of his traditional rites in Ijero-Ekiti.
He added that there were also traditional rites expected to be performed by the Ajero in Iloro-Ekiti as part of the relationship between the two communities.
Oba Olugbesoye further disclosed that the candidate put forward by the opposing side in the dispute had died and was scheduled to be buried.
The monarch will now take his case to the Supreme Court as the legal battle over the Oluloro of Iloro-Ekiti stool continues.