OLOWU STOOL: COURT SUMMONS OBJ, MONARCH

By NBF News

An Ogun State High Court, sitting in Abeokuta, yesterday summoned former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his ancestral monarch, the Olowu of Owu-Abeokuta, Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu. The summon by the presiding Judge, Justice Peter Onamade was sequel to a suit filed by one of the contenders to the royal stool, Prince Olutayo Adebiyi Fadairo over the manner in which Oba Dosunmu emerged as a successor to Oba Adisa Odeleye in 2005.

The presiding judge, Justice Peter Onamade, ordered the appearance of Obasanjo and the monarch during the hearing of a suit filed by one of the contenders for the Olowu chieftaincy, Prince Olutayo Adebiyi Fadairo.

Fadairo had last June 22, filed the suit challenging the selection process and subsequent installation of Oba Dosunmu on July 3, 2005, as the rightful occupant of the royal stool.

Describing the process through which Dosunmu emerged as 'unlawful and illegal.' Fadairo in a writ of summons filed by his counsel, claimed that the kingmakers had initially appointed him as the Olowu on August 9, 2004.

This he averred was in line with the consent judgment of the state High Court dated July 21, 2004, which were not respected or followed.

Joined in the suit are state Attorney-General, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as well as Secretary of Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state.

The rest are Chiefs S.O. Olaifa, O.O. Oshungboye, S. Ogunlolu, Adisa Adewolu and M. Ola Yusuf.

In the suit, marked AB/158/2011, Justice Onamade also granted the request of the plaintiff seeking to paste order of the court summons on the walls of Obasanjo's Ota farm as well as the Olowu palace in Abeokuta. The judge, thereafter, adjourned till November 23 for further hearing of the case.