An Osogbo High Court, presided over by the State Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo will today rule on whether the name of the first defendant in Ooni’s stool legal tussle, Governor Rauf Aregbesola should be excluded as demanded by counsel to the plaintiffs.

Sooko Adegoke and Prince Marcus Adebola Akimoyero had on behalf of Lafogido Ruling House of Ile-Ife instituted a legal action against the Governor, the Obalufe of Ile-Ife, Oba Solomon Omisakin and Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaduola on their decision to allow only Giesi Ruling House to present candidates to fill the vacant stool of Ooni.

Omisakin and Ijaodola are two prominent leaders of Ife kingmakers.

However, there was a twist to the suit yesterday as the second and third defendants, Omisakin and Ijaodola through their counsel, Mr Peter Ogunleye also filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case in the first instance saying the court lacks competence to hear it.

When the case came up yesterday, lead counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Abiodun Olaide, told the court that he had filed a motion seeking exclusion of the first defendant, {Aregbesola} from the case.

Olaide did not give any reason for the exclusion notice but argued that he has right to sue and also to withdraw his case at any time.

He thereby sought the order of the court to remove the first defendant from the case and allow only the second and third defendants to remain

But the lead counsel to the first defendant, Mr. Wale Afolabi who is also a former State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice opposed the motion to remove his client’s name from the case.

He argued that the plaintiffs couldn’t withdraw from the case without asking for court permission, insisting that it is too late to challenge the Ife Chieftaincy Declaration of 1979/80 that gives the Giesi Ruling House exclusive right produce the next Ooni.

But Olaide objected to the oral application made by counsels to the defendants, adding, “the petition challenging the jurisdiction of the court was new and has not been served on him.

He said the oral application made by counsel to the first defendant was also frivolous pointing out that he should have reacted since he had been served copy of the motion.

Justice Ojo adjourned the ruling till today and also directed the parties to file their processes accordingly.

Click here to read from source.