By Kayode Adeoti
A High Court presided over by Justice Sulyman Akanbi on Monday declined to hear suit challenging the suspension of three traditional chiefs who were suspended in 2016 by late Olomu of Omu Aran, Oba Charles Oladele Ibitoye.
The chiefs; Oloye Aran of Aran community, Hassan Agboola Oyinloye, Asaba Aran of Aran community, Adebayo Omiyale and Ibale Aran Jubril Afolabi Arowoduye were reportedly suspended six months for boycotting palace. They were also said to have lost salaries for that period.
The respondents through their counsel, Salman Jawondo, approached court for the reverse of the suspension on the basis that Olomu doesn’t have the power to suspend them.
They based their reason on the fact that Omu Aran comprise two communities and they are from the one where the late Olomu cannot exercise such power.
The defendants, represented from John Olushola Baiyeshea chambers (SAN) approached court with a motion on notice dated 11 May, 2017 seeking an order to dismiss the matter on the grounds that it is an abuse of court process and that the honourable court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain it.
Beiyeshea who was represented by Olukayode Odetokun further buttressed his argument that the respondents must wait for the response of the matter already instituted at the Court Appeal before taking any further step on the issue.
The judge while delivering his ruling on Monday however throw out the application of the defendants on the basis that it is an abuse of court process.
Speaking with Pilot Law after the court session on the issue is Olupano of Omu Aran, Alhaji Abdulazeez Adeniyi who stressed that the matter was first heard at the Omu Aran High Court in 2015 and the suit was decided in favour of the late Olomu.
According to him, they felt not satisfied with the court judgement over the matter, that was why they appealed sometimes in 2017 and unfortunately, they lost again.
