Nigerian Monarch Chased out of his Palace
A monarch in Nigeria, the Oba Olatunde Falabi, the Akire of Ikire, has been chased out of his palace by a mob. He was however rescued by military officers who took him into safety.
The monarch was sacked by a Supreme Court judgment six years ago. He has however, refused to step down from the throne.
The youths had earlier protested against the Oba due to refusal to leave the palace following court orders. The Court’s judgment was that Oba Falabi should leave the palace and said his stay on the throne is illegal.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, SP Opalola Yemisi said no life was lost during the incident.
The battle for the throne started in 1987 after the demise of the former traditional ruler, Oba Oseni Oyegunle.
When the process of appointing a new monarch started, one of the five ruling houses, Aketula, presented a candidate. The candidate presented is Mr Tajudeen Olanrewaju, in line with the Akire of Ikire Chieftaincy Declaration of 1958.
Before the installation of Olanrewaju could be completed, two ruling houses, Ladekan and Lanbeloye, went to court. The two parties went to challenge the inclusion of Aketula in the ruling houses.
High Court’s Decision on the Case
An Ile-Ife High Court stopped Olanrewaju’s installation as the monarch. Oba Olutunde Falabi, was installed in May 1993. Even though he lost at the Appeal Court, Olanrewaju proceeded to the Supreme Court.
His judgment on April 11, 2014, the Supreme Court affirmed that Aketula was one of the ruling houses, as provided in the 1958 Akire of Ikire Chieftaincy Declaration.
The apex Court also held “that the 1958 Declaration, in respect of the Akire of Ikire Chieftaincy stool, has not been amended or repealed.’’
Following the judgment, the incumbent monarch approached an Osun High Court. He wants it to restrain the state government from deposing him because he had not committed any offence warranting his removal. He also pleaded with the court to restrain the state governor. The Commissioners for Justice, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, from deposing him while his incumbency subsisted.
Justice Abdulkareem of Osun High Court, in his judgment of June 29, 2020, said that Falabi could no longer occupy the stool. It was based on the 1958 Akire Declaration and the rotational procedure contained therein.
