The Nloku of Iraye-Ode Remo, Oba Olatunji Kalejaiye, an embattled monarch in Ogun State, has had his reign put to an end by the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Justices of the Appeal Court, presided over by Hon. Justice Moore A. A. Adumein, issued a ruling in the case (Appeal No: CA/1B/255/2015 Suit No: HCS/65/2019, an appeal filed by Kalejaiye against his deposition in 2015 by a State High Court sitting in Sagamu, Ogun East Senatorial District), finding that “the appeal lacked merit and is hereby dismissed.” The Hon. Justice Olugbenga Ogunfowora’s decision is upheld in this sentence.
In 2015, Justice Ogunfowora had ordered Kalejaiye to leave the throne immediately after declaring his ascension to the throne as illegitimate, ultra vires, null and invalid in the ruling in the lawsuit contesting his enthronement. The judge further mandated that Kalejaiye cease from being recognized as the Nloku of Iraye-Ode Remo town in the state’s Remo North Local Government Area by the Ogun State Government, the Attorney General, Remo North Local Government, and the town’s leaders.
The Judge ruled that there is no mention of any Sugbodo ruling house in the gazette that authorizes the selection of the Nloku of Iraye-Ode Remo, and ordered the kingmakers to call an immediate meeting to consider candidates for the throne from the Sugbada ruling house, which is the legitimate ruling household in the town, to produce the next king. Although the Sugbada ruing house contested his candidacy and selection by the kingmakers on the grounds that he wasn’t a part of the ruling arm, the state government nonetheless went ahead and inaugurated Kalejaiye in 2009, which led to the legal case.
Elders and members of the Sugbada royal dynasty of Iraye-Ode Remo have contested the legitimacy of Adegbola’s throne claims. Along with Kalejaiye, other parties involved in the lawsuit include the Attorney General, the Remo North Local Government, and the Kingmakers. The plaintiffs requested relief in their statement of claims, which the court fully granted. They were represented by the attorney Tunji Onabawo. Justice Ogunfowora determined all the points in favor of the plaintiffs after summarizing all the arguments made by the attorneys for both sides.
After the Appeal Court’s decision, G. O. Agboola Esq. addressed the court and expressed his gratitude to the Justices for their brilliant, thorough, and incisive handling of the appeal.
