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Friday 27 February 2015

Alaafin Storms Abuja Over Court Order


Disturbed by the recent order of a court, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi on Friday stormed Abuja to see the powers-that-be to intervene in the matter. The monarch, who arrived the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja aboard an Overland Air morning flight, was accompanied by two of his aides. It would be recalled that the IGP, in a motion of mandamus filed by Chiefs Jacob Oluokun and Sulaiman Ajiboye Ishola, was mandated by a Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State to investigate the allegations contained in the said petition.

Justice Ayo Emmanuel of the court had granted the prayers of the pla‎intiff to compel the IGP to investigate the petition written by them against the traditional ruler, which was addressed to the IGP and delivered to him on March 18, 2014. Worried by the order, the traditional ruler has approached the Federal High Court, Ibadan to grant him leave to appeal a judgment of the court that mandated the Inspector General of Police to investigate alleged criminal activities against him. In its judgment of December 15, 2014, the court granted the bidding of the plaintiffs, describing it as the statutory duties of the police. However, Oba Adeyemi, in the suit‎ no. FHC/IB/CS/54/2014, through his lawyer, Adebayo Adegbite, sought the leave of the court to appeal the judgment, though he was not a party to the original suit, arguing he was an ‘interested party’ in the matter.
The counsel, in his Motion on Notice, said by virtue of Section 243 of the 1999 Constitution, his client could appeal the said ruling. The traditional ruler also wants the court to restrain the IGP, his officers, men or proxies from arresting or investigating him over the said petition. The motion was supported by a seven-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Damilola Olugbemi, from the Adebayo Adegbite Chambers. Oba Adeyemi also added that he was aware that the police was about to execute the ruling of the court, saying if not stopped by the court, it could lead to public ridicule and embarrassment to his person and office.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit. Palace sources, however, told our Correspondent that the monarch was greatly disturbed by the development in the Court. He was said to have contacted the Chief of Staff to the President, Brigadier General Jones Arogbofa, as a prominent Yoruba son in the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the matter. Sources added that his urgent visit to Abuja on Friday was to honour the appointment to see the Chief of Staff. It was further disclosed that Alaafin was equally slated to see the IGP, Suleiman Abba, over the matter.

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