Alleged Succession: Kwara monarch drags lieutenant to court over alleged declaration of self as king

By Kayode Adeoti

The relative  peace and tranquility enjoyed in Ayedun, a community in
Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State  was recently  threatened
when Chief Michael Sunday Ayantola, the lieutenant of Obajisun of
Ayedun, Dr Olusegun Rotimi, allegedly declared self as  king in the
ancient town.
In order to address what was believed to be sacrilegious, Obajisun has
dragged his second- in -command before a state High Court sitting in
Ilorin.
Ayantola was said to have carved out his  ‘kingdom’ from Ayedun,
thereby presiding over it as king.
The defendant, who hails from Iwoye compound in the ancient town was
said to have proclaimed himself as Oba Iwoye of Iwoye land.
Obajisun, through the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Adebimpe
Abdulmumini Jimoh, posited that such development is against the
tradition of Ayedun.
The plan by Ayantola to appoint Chiefs who will work with him in Iwoye
kingdom was reportedly foiled by Obajisun following a petition
forwarded to the state Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The Ayedun monarch in the petition,  called on the police and the
Attorney General of the state to prevail over the situation less it
degenerated into break break down of law and order.
So far, the two parties have presented their final addresses, with the
prosecutor calling six witnesses while defendant presented three.
The court has however reserved the ruling on the adoption of final
addresses and the revocation of defendant’s bail to the next adjourned
date, 30th October, 2019.
The defendant was charged to court under section 16 (2) of the Kwara
State Chieftaincy law and section 158 of the CPC.
Earlier,   the matter had been  transferred from the Magistrate court,
presided over by Magistrate Segun Balogun to the High Court.
The suit was taken to the higher court on the basis that the
magistrate doesn’t have the jurisdiction to entertain it.
It was gathered that the defendant had earlier sworn an affidavit in
support of his declaration as king which he presented before Omu-Aran
High Court where he filed the suit.
The case was reportedly dismissed  on the basis that he lacked locus
standi to institute legal action against the state government over the
matter.