>
An Oyo State High Court on Friday declared the review of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration carried out by the Oyo State Government as unconstitutional, illegal, null, void and of no effect.
A commission led by Justice Akintunde Boade had recommended among others the creation of several monarchs in Ibadan which led to the installation of 21 kings by the state Governor Abiola Ajimobi in August 2017.
The Osi Olubadan of Ibadan land, Rashidi Ladoja, challenged the composition and recommendations of the commission in court, joining Ajimobi as co-defendant.
In her ruling on Friday, Justice Olajumoke Aiki held that wearing of beaded crowns are beyond the purview of Sections 10,12 and 25 of the Oyo State Chiefs Law, stating that Section 25 of the chiefs law could not be treated in isolation to the provisions of Parts Two and Three of the Chiefs Laws
The court also said provisions of Parts Two and Three of the Chiefs Laws, particularly Sections 10, 12 and 25 did not give power to the governor to review the Olubadan chieftaincy declaration, while also restraining the government from accepting and implementing the reports of the commission.
Speaking after the court session, counsel to Ajimobi, Mr Nurudeen Adegboye, said the decision to appeal the judgment rests with his client.
But counsel to Ladoja, Mr Babatunde Akinola, commended the judge, saying the judgment was well delivered.