Justice M. A. Akinyemi of the Ogun State High Court, Sagamu, has scheduled May 21, 2025, for the hearing of a lawsuit filed by the Kankanbina Ruling House of Ogere-Remo against the Ogun State Government over the alleged imposition of Oba James Obafemi Saliu as the Ologere of Ogere-Remo.
The suit lists Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Chairman of Ikenne Local Government, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Ganiu Hamzat, and Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General Sina Ogungbade, SAN, as co-defendants alongside Oba Saliu.
Disputed Selection Process
According to court documents made available on Thursday, Prince Olugbenga Adewoju, Rev. Frederick Atakan, Mrs. Kehinde Odetola, and two others, on behalf of the Kankanbina Ruling House, approached the state high court in May 2023, challenging the selection and installation of Oba Saliu.
The claimants argue that it is their family’s rightful turn to occupy the Ologere stool, rather than the Aremo and Gushemade families, from which Oba Saliu emerged.
They contend that they had nominated Prince Olugbenga Adewoju and submitted his name to the appropriate authorities.
However, the Chairman of Ikenne Local Government allegedly rejected their nomination in a letter dated December 7, 2022.
They further allege that the local government chairman convened a meeting that included five other candidates—reportedly not members of the Kankanbina family—where Oba Saliu was subsequently nominated by the Aremo and Gushemade families.
Alleged Violation of Due Process
The claimants state that they protested the alleged wrongful selection to Commissioner Ganiu Hamzat, who scheduled a meeting for April 27, 2023, to address the dispute.
However, they claim that Oba Saliu’s installation was conducted on April 25, 2023, two days before the scheduled meeting.
At the April 27 meeting, the commissioner reportedly advised the claimants to seek legal redress, stating that the appointment and installation had already been completed.
Claimants’ Demands
The Kankanbina Ruling House is urging the court to:
- Declare that their family is the rightful lineage to produce the next Ologere of Ogere-Remo.
- Nullify the selection, nomination, and appointment of Oba Saliu, arguing it was not conducted in line with the customs and traditions of the Kankanbina Ruling House and the Ogun State Chiefs Law.
- Declare Prince Olugbenga Adewoju as the legitimate candidate for the throne.
Justice Akinyemi has fixed May 21, 2025, for the commencement of the trial.
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