The Olubadan-to-be, Sen. Lekan Balogun and other high chiefs have disclosed that they are no longer interested in the legal battle against the Oyo state government.
The high chiefs were said to have written their lawyer, Kunle Sobaloju to discontinue their case, challenging a consent judgment earlier given on their elevation from high chiefs to Obaship status.
In a letter dated 30th January, a copy of which was obtained by newsmen; they said the withdrawal became important in order not to truncate the peace enjoyed in Ibadan.
This was just as the affected high chiefs, in their letter said “Future reforms or reviews to the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957 should be kept in view for now, to be addressed during the tenure of our new Olubadan of Ibadan.”
Six out of the 8 high chiefs who were elevated signed the withdrawal letter.
Only yesterday, news media platforms had hinted that Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, may not have a new Olubadan soon as such announcement is not likely to happen anytime soon despite the ongoing preparations and announcements on the installation of Sen. Balogun as the new Olubadan.
Recall oyoaffairs.net reported that there was a new twist to the controversy surrounding the nomination, appointment, approval and announcement of Oba Lekan Balogun, who is the next in line to the throne, as the new Olubadan.
It was gathered that Balogun and other members of the Olubadan-in-Council who were crowned Obas in 2017 are yet to fulfill their pledge to Governor ‘Seyi Makinde that they would withdraw a case challenging a consent judgment earlier given on the matter.
At the hearing of the case on January 14, Justice Munta Abimbola, who is the Chief Judge of the state, directed parties in the suit to further address the court on the validity or otherwise of the consent judgment in view of the decision of the Appeal Court.
The parties, through their lawyers, are to address Justice Abimbola on February 1, 2022.
When pressed for comment on whether moves had been made to withdraw the case, a former Attorney General of the state, Michael Lana, told newsmen that he was surprised to see that Balogun’s lawyers have filed a further written address instead of filing a notice of withdrawal of the case.
Lana, who is counsel for one of the defendants, said he and other lawyers had wanted to appeal the decision of Justice Abimbola that the parties address the court on the validity or otherwise of the consent judgment, but decided against doing so since the claimants said they would withdraw the case.
“We had 14 days to appeal the decision, but waited in view of the claimants’ expression of intent to withdraw the case as expressed during their meeting with Governor Makinde.
“But instead of a notice of withdrawal of the case, we received their argument which they have filed before the court on the validity or otherwise of the consent judgment,” he said.
He said he had no choice than to approach the Appeal Court to challenge the issue of validity or otherwise of the consent judgment raised by Justice Abimbola.
According to him, the appeal was filed on Thursday, January 27, 2022; one day to the expiration of the 14 days within which such action must be taken.
On the implication of the appeal, he said the case at the High Court would have to wait for the appeal to be decided.