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(The Guardian) - The recent installation of a new Ataoja of Osogbo in Osun State, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, Laooye II was yesterday nullified by an Osogbo High Court, which voided the appointment of the monarch and ordered him to vacate the throne.
Alhaji Nasiru Oyeniyi, on behalf of Gbaemu Ruling House, had challenged the nomination, appointment and installation of the monarch, alleging that the
Kingmakers did not properly follow due process before Olanipekun was installed.
Joined as co-defendants in the suit were the eight kingmakers of Osogbo led by the Ajagunna, the Osun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and his counterpart for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun.
The suit was filed on August 24, 2010 by the plaintiffs who faulted the approval and issuance of instrument of appointment to Olanipekun as the new Ataoja of Osogbo following the demise of the former monarch, Oba Oyewale Matanmi.
The plaintiffs in a motion ex-parte and motion on notice had secured an injunction restraining all the defendants from appointing anybody as Ataoja of Osogbo pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
When the ex-parte motion came up for hearing, the court ordered all the defendants to be put on notice and adjourned the matter till September 8, 2010 for hearing.
All the defendants were served on September 8, 2010 and most of the defendants also served their counter affidavit against the motion for injunction on the plaintiff that same day. But the plaintiff's counsel asked for adjournment to enable them study the processes served on him by the defendants. However, immediately the court adjourned on September 8, 2010, the first defendant, who was the former governor of the state, Olagunsoye
Oyinlola went ahead to approve the nomination of Olanipekun. He was later installed and presented the staff of office by the former governor as the new Ataoja on September 12, last year.
Delivering his ruling yesterday, the court, presided over by Justice Yinka Aderibigbe granted the application of the plaintiffs and ordered the monarch to vacate the Ataoja stool immediately.
In the ruling, the court said "all the processes leading to the nomination of Alhaji Jimoh Olanipekun to fill the vacant stool of the Ataoja of Osogbo through the purported Larooye Royal House of Osogboland during the pending of the suit and the motion for interlocutory injunction is hereby set aside."
Meanwhile, the embattled monarch and the Kingmakers have filed a notice of appeal against the ruling.
Source: Court Voids New Ataoja Of Osogbo's Appointment (http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39056:court-voids-new-ataoja-of-osogbos-appointment&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)