By Kayode Adeoti
The crisis brewing in prominent Ilorin household, Onimago took a new twist on Tuesday as one Alhaji Alabi Onimago dragged the former Kwara Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Saka Onimago and his siblings to court.
The claimant in a suit no KWS/136/2017 has sought several court orders among which are: to forbid defendants, former SSG and two others, Alhaji Ibrahim Adedeji and Alhaji Bayo Audu from bearing the prominent name.
The claimant averred that his ancestors, Ibrahim Onimago, Alfa Sanusi Onimago and Sanusi Jinadu Onimago are the first settlers at the Ile Onimago in Ilorin, hence, their siblings have legal rights to be called and known as Onimago while the defendants does not.
The claimant; “averred that the defendants and members of his family started bearing our Onimago compound name from 1966… Late Busari Adedeji who was the defendants’ ancestor was not a blood relation of Ibrahim Onimago, Alfa Onimago and Sanisi Jinadu Onimago.”
He further claimed that the defendants and members of their family have been using their ‘fame, positions and influences to stop them from being recognised as Onimago.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the parties have filed their pre-trial conferences and formulated issues for determination for the court.
The claimants’ counsel, Azeez Ibrahim formulated three issues and therefore urged court to adopt them.
Counsel to the defendant, Bolaji Edun formulated five issues for determination by the court. The
Claimant’s counsel however observed and submitted that the defendant’s claims should be struck out adding that they are not related to the matter before the court.
In his response, Edun urged the court to dismiss the observation of the defendant’s counsel on the basis that it lacks merit noting that it is misplacement and evidence that the claimant counsel lacks the understanding of the case filed before the court.
He said, “At this stage of pre-trial conference, counsel or parties cannot go into the essence of the case, it is the duty of the court to do that,” Edun submitted.
The trial judge, Justice Matthew Adewara who seemed to be in agreement with the defendants’ counsel stressed that it is the duty of the court to ‘marry issues’ and therefore give the parties report.
He however adjourned the matter till January 29, 2018 for continuation of hearing.
Meanwhile, this medium gathered that the claimant had once reported the matter to the Mogaji of his ward but Alabi was warned to desist from ‘false claims’.
Being unsatisfied, Alabi reported the matter to the Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin and the outcome again was not in his favour.
The former later lodged his complaint at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, who after thorough investigation validated the defendant and his as the authentic Onimagos.
The royal father was said to have instructed the concerned to live in peace adding that they should uphold the legacy left by their forefathers.
