A traditional ruler in Ondo state, the Akinnuwa of Igbindo town, Oba John Ogundoju has been ordered removed from his position by the Appeal Court sitting in Akure, Ondo state.
Ogundoju’s removal was hinged on his ineligibility to contest for the stool, being from the matrilineal line of the ruling house.
The three-man panel led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma ordered Ogundoju to stop parading himself as the traditional ruler of the community and also ordered the ruling house to commence the process of picking another candidate to fill the vacate stool.
The appellant court’s decision followed an earlier one by the State High Court removing Ogundoju from the post on July 28, 2015, barely two weeks after getting his staff of office from the state government.
Unsatisfied by the decision, he had approached the Appeal Court, which has now resolved the matter against him.
Some princes from Ogbowo Okun Ruling House in the community led by Adetutu Ifashole and Okunade Makinde Fashole had dragged Ogundoju before the State High Court, praying the court to declare his appointment as null and void because he was ineligible to contest for the stool.
The plaintiffs argued that Ogundoju was ineligible to contest for the stool being from the female lineage of the ruling house, while ascension to the throne could only be from the male lineage according to the custom and tradition of the community.
Justice Bode Adegbehingbe of the State High Court granted the plaintiffs’ prayers and ordered Ogundoju’s removal.