Itire Traditional Stool: Ruling House Cries Fowl. Fingers Lagos State Government, Mushin LG Chairman, Others
The recent installation of the Onitire of Itire, Oba Tajudeen Ishola Odubiyi in Mushin local government area of Lagos State has drawn condemnation from the Omobo branch of Odunburu Ruling House.
The claimants are perplexed at the audacious, barefaced and brazen disdain to existing Lagos Hight Court injuction in a suit no: ID/3669GCNW/2017, which mandated all parties to maintain status quo pending determination of the matter.
The claimants, represented by: Walim Irawo, Teslim Apena, Rasheed Apena, Taiwo Ogundipe, Mrs. Afusat Williams, and Jimoh Irawo, had in their final written addresses before the court presided over by Justice Yetunde Pinheiro, prayed the judge:
“A declaration that Omobo is a branch in Odunburu Ruling House.
“A declaration that Odunburu Ruling House is made up of seven branches, namely; Lesho, Owunro, Aina, Abija Eru, Ejolabi, Omobo, Oluwole, and Orebiyi.
“A declaration that the claimants are descendants of Omobo branch of Odunburu Ruling House.
“A declaration that the 1st claimant, being a descendant of Odunburu Ruling House, is entitled to be considered eligible to contest for the said stool of Onitire of Itire.
“An order on injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Defendants from acting on public notice published on January 16, 2017, or carrying out any exercise to fill the vacant stool of Onitire, pending the determination of the suit.”
The Claimants had approached the court through a Writ of Summons dated April 18, 2017. However, as a result of the order issued by Justice Pinheiro on October 10, 2018, the Claimants amended the Writ of Summons dated October 18, 2018.
The trial commenced on December 8, 2020, and while the trial lasted, the Claimants relied on their Amended Statement of Claim dated October 19, 2018.
The Defendants in the suit are Chief Adisa Olatunji, The Chairman, Mushin LGA of Lagos State, The Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, The Executive Governor of Lagos State, and the Honourable Attorney General of Lagos State.
"It is reprehensible, that the defendants including Lagos State governor, The Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Lagos State Attorney General, Mushin local government Chairman and their privies, in gross violation and disregard to the 'Status quo' order of the court, installed Tajudeen Ishola Odubiyi, as Onitire of Itire Land" echoed an anonymous observer in the case.
It bewilders one that Lagos State government and her privies will recklessly repudiate and relegate the judiciary by adopting lawlessness in a case that is still in Court. Is judiciary still the last hope of a common citizen? The answer to the question will be provided on November 28, 2022, when the final addresses in the case will be adopted in Ikeja High Court.