The Ogun State High Court on Tuesday ruled in favour of demoted on 75 coronet Obas on February 6, 2020 by Governor Dapo Abiodun administration, following suit instituted by them, seeking the court to nullify the Governor’s action.
Penpushing reports that, other respondents in the suit were the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, while earlier in the proceeding, the Egba Traditional Council led by its counsel, Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), had filed an application seeking to be joined in the suit.
The judge, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi in his judgement affirmed their installation, appointment and promotion, of the traditional rulers which was carried out by the immediate past Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun at the tail end of his administration.
Penpushing further reports that, the judge declared the demotion by incumbent Governor, Dapo Abiodun as unlawful, null and void, emphasisng that the coronet Obas were not given fair hearing by the review committee set up by the state government to look into the issue of their appointment by the previous administration.
The judge pointed out that the government failed to convey the sack of the traditional rulers to them through the appropriate individual or authority, and equally ordered the state government to immediately pay their entitlements and remunerations from the time of installation.
Penpushing also reports that, Akinyemi in his ruling dismissed the application, stressing that he found no merit in the application, which he described as an attempt to arrest the judgment of the court.
The judge equally, awarded a personal cost of N250, 000 against Fashanu, adding that as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), he ought to know better than to file such an application, noting that since the council wasn’t a party in the matter, the application was frivolous and an abuse of court process.
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