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The Court of Appeal, Ibadan has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the Oyo State Government against the judgment of the High Court whixh ruked that the governor had no power to set up a commission to review the Olibadan Chieftaincy Declaration through which some Ibadan high chiefs were elevated to obas.
At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel representing Sen. Rashid Ladoja, Mr Michael Lana, sent a letter indicating that he took ill. He authorized S. S. Akinyele to represent him.
Lana had also filed an application seeking to stay further proceedings in the appeal pending determination of a fresh appeal he filed at the Supreme Court against the last ruling of the court refusing to set aside the gazette elevating the new Obas.
In arguing the motion for stay, the appellant’s counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN) and the Attorney General of Oyo State, Oluseun Abimbola, contended that the application was incompetent as the supposed appeal to the Supreme Court was filed well out of the statutory time limit.
The court agreed with the said argument and dismissed the application for stay of proceedings. All other attempts by Akinyele to adjourn the appeal further was opposed by the appellant’s counsel and the Attorney General as it was seen as a calculated attempt to frustrate the appeal.
The court held that no reasonable ground exists to adjourn considering that Mr Lana had written to authorize Akinyele to take the appeal. The appeal was then heard with all parties adopting their briefs.
The Appeal Court then reserved judgment till a date that will be announced later.