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An Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo, on Wednesday removed the Obalufe of Ife, Oba Idowu Adediwura, declaring that his selection and coronation as Obalufe were illegal, null and void.
Justice Foluke Awolalu, who presided over the court, also ordered the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi to enthrone Abayomi Elugbuji of Aga ruling house as the new Obalufe of Ife within the next 21 days.
Justice Awolalu, who based her judgment on the Ife Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957, heard both the preliminary objection suit instituted by Adediwura and the substantive suit filed by Elugbuji.
The court held that it was the turn of Aga ruling house of Elugbuji to produce the new Obalufe and also restrained Adediwura of Ajagusi ruling house from parading himself as the Obalufe of Ife.
Speaking on the judgment, counsel to the plaintiff, Barr. Babafemi Akande, said: “nobody is above the law. The judge gave the judgment in accordance with the dictates of the law. The Ife Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957 cannot be disregarded.”