The traditional ruler of Oke-Igbo in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State, the Olu-Oke, Oba Babajide Lawrence Oluwole has been deposed by an Ondo State High Court.
Oluwole was removed through a judgement delivered at the weekend by Justice Ademola Enikuemehin, in a suit filed by Princes Rufus Adekanye and Temitope Adeoye on behalf of the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House of Oke-Igbo.
The claimants, through their counsel, Chief Sola Ebiseni faulted Oluwole’s appointment in 2018, claiming he was not a member of the Aare Kugbaigbe whose turn it is to present a candidate to the throne.
Justice Enikuemehin held that eligibility to the Oke-Igbo throne was restricted to the descendants of Odo Eleyowo, Are Kugbaigbe, Kuole Oloje, Aderin Ologbenla and Ajibike Adedimeji of the male lineage.
The court ruled that only members of the said Are Kugbaigbe Ruling House of the male lineage were qualified to be proposed as candidate(s) and be made an Oba at the turn of the Ruling House.
It held that Oluwole, not being a descendant of the Are Kugbaigbe, was not a member of the Are Kugbaigbe Ruling House and therefore not qualified under the declaration to be proposed as a candidate for the vacant stool of or be made the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo.
Justice Enikuemehin, who granted the declaration that Oluwole’s appointment was illegal, arbitrary, irregular, null and void, ordered the defendants to set in motion the proper processes of selection and appointment by inviting the claimants to present candidate(s) to fill the vacant stool of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo chieftaincy in accordance with the Declaration and the Chiefs Law of Ondo State.
He restrained Oluwole from further parading himself or allowing himself to be paraded as or accorded the rights and privileges pertaining to the person, title and office of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo.
