16th April, 2016
Dedeigbo Ayodeji
An appeal court sitting in Lagos has dismissed an application challenging the rights of HRM Oba Bashir Oloruntoyin Saliu as Oloworo of Oworosonki town.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo, he dismissed the case instituted by the Bani and Kamado families of Oworosonki who claimed that it was their turn to produce the next Oba.
The two families had earlier appealed against the ruling of an Ikeja High Court delivered on 27 March 2013 on the preliminary objection filled by the respondents, thereby dismissing the suit as instituted by the appellants on ground of estoppel.
The appellants had sought the following reliefs: “A declaration that the 1st defendant is not entitled to be nominated, selected or appointed as the Oba of Oworosonki in the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos state, therefore his appointment as the Oba of Oworosonki by the 2nd to the 5th Defendants herein is wrongful, null and void: therefore it should be set aside.
“A declaration that the claimants families constituting Bani and Kamado Oworosonki are entitled to be recognised and are to produce an Oba or a Traditional Ruler for Oworosonki Town in the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State.
In delivering the judgement the judge averred that having being settled in suit No ID/741M/98, Hon. Justice Adeyinka, that the 1st respondent be appointed and confirmed as the Oba of Oworonsoki, noting that, it stands to reason that the issue of Obaship of Oworosonki can not be re-litigated upon by the appellants.
The judge stated that, “The Appellants herein is undoubtedly estopped from re-litigating the issue as to who is entitled to be recognised and appointed as the Oba of Oworonsoki Town or Chieftaincy Declaration regulating the appointment and selection of Oba of Oworosonki already made other than appealing against the final judgement of the lower court in suit No ID/741M/98 which has effectively determined the issue.
“The sole issue in this appeal is resolved against the Appellants, this appeal is therefore unmeritorious and hereby dismissed, ” the judge ruled.
As at the time of filing this report, Oba of Owonroshoki, told our correspondent at Ikeja Magistrate court that, “Alhaji Ajisegiri told the court that they are ready to abide by the rule of law and that they are ready to bring peace back to Owonroshoki land.”
He added that “Owonroshoki is peaceful place and development in Owonroshoki land is pertinent for all”.
Our correspondent also gathered that the two families took Bashir Oloruntoyin Saliu, before an Ikeja Magistrate court but that their case was dismissed and Oba Bashiru Oloruntoyin Saliu was declared the rightful Oba of Owonroshoki land.
The case was also taken before an Ikeja, high court before Justice Onigbanjo but the court ruled against them and declared, Bashir Oloruntoyin Saliu as the rightful Oba of Owonroshoki land.
Reacting to the series of court cases, Oba Bashir Oloruntoyin Saliu said, “they took me to three different courts and I won, now they have called both parties to settle so there will be peace in Owonroshoki land.