Ajimobi Vows To Appeal Court Verdict On Olubadan Chieftaincy Review

The Oyo State Government says it will appeal the judgment which stated unconstitutional and illegal the Commission of Inquiry recommending the elevation of some Ibadan high chiefs to Obas.

Justice Olajumoke Aiki of Oyo State High Court had on Friday declared the retired Justice Akintunde Boade’s Commission of Inquiry which reviewed the 1957 Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other Chieftaincies as unconstitutional and illegal.

The state government had on Aug. 27, 2017 elevated some Ibadan High Chiefs, except one and some district heads (Baales) as obas, an action which pitted them against Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Olubadan.

The Osi Olubadan and former governor of the state, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, had filed a suit to challenge the propriety of the Justice Boade Commission of Inquiry.

Reacting to the judgment of the court on Friday in Ibadan, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi said that the state will appeal the verdict.

The governor made the assertion at the inauguration of a block of classrooms donated by Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN) to Community Secondary School, Ajara in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olujimi was a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation and an indigene of Ajara community in Ibadan.

“Today’s judgment on the Olubadan Chieftaincy review will be appealed immediately. We have embarked upon the exercise, not for joke, but for the good of Ibadan and the people.

“We will not relent in making Ibadan great and the greatness shall come from various ways, one of which is the review exercise.

“You should not expect people to accept change and radical policy for that matter, but we shall get there.

“ We will not allow the forces of retrogression to overtake the progress Oyo State is making,’’ Ajimobi said.