Ruling house alleges self-acclaimed traditional ruler, Yisa Olaniyan of flagrant disobedience to court order

Sahara Weekly Reports That The Iwaye Adodo ruling house comprising the entire members of Asade, Adekanbi, Oteni and Okeleye royal families in Ipokia of Ogun State have frowned at the alleged flagrance disobedience to the order of court by Yisa Olaniyan, who still go about on self-acclaimed as Onipokia of Ipokia town.

Amebo news reports that the royal families in a press statement recalled that the court in the ruling in suit number Ab/ 253/2019 between Prince Adesola Asade and 2 others vs. Governor of Ogun State and others on March 3, 2022 set aside the approval and appointment of Yisa Olaniyan as the Onipokia of Ipokia.

The families added that Justice Ogunfowora had set aside the approval and appointment of Yisa Olaniyan as the Onipokia of Ipokia pending the hearing and determination of the motion of notice for injunction earlier filed by Asade/Adekanbi royal Family on behalf of Iwaye Adodo Rulling House, Ipokia.

Amebo news further reports that the families, however, expressed shock that despite the above order Olaniyan has continued unabated to parade himself as the Onipokia of Ipokia and gallivanting all over the place to illegally carry out the functions and duties as Onipokia of Ipokia.

‘It is pertinent to state unequivocally here that in his ruling on the subject matter at the State High Court, sitting in Abeokuta, on 3rd March, 2022, his Lordship, Honourable Justice Ogunfowora had set aside the approval and appointment of Yisa Olaniyan as the Onipokia of Ipokia pending the hearing and determination of the motion of notice for injuction earlier filed by Asade/Adekanbi royal family on behalf of Iwaye Adodo ruling house Ipokia’

‘Despite the above order Yisa Olaniyan has continued unabated to parade himself as the Onipokia of Ipokia and gallivanting all over the place to illegally carry out the functions and duties as Onipokia of Ipokia’, the families noted.

The families pointed out that in its ruling, the judge specifically stated at page 6 ,that he must state with all sense of responsibility that a government that requests, nay, demands obedience and respect of its citizenry to eschew self-help must not itself disrespect the court and its processes, particularly when it is aware that a matter is in court

Amebo news online also reports that the Iwaye Dodo ruling house stated in the statement that the court posited that the defendants have no right to take matters into their hands once the court was seized of it, in the final analysis and in view of the above.

The Defendants have no right to take matters into their hands once the Court was seized of it. In the final analysis and in view of the above, this application is granted in the following terms: The approval of the appointment of Yisa Olusola Olaniyan as the ONIPOKIA OF IPOKIA by the government of Ogun State is hereby set aside pending the hearing and determination of the Claimants’ application for Interlocutory Injunction which has been filed since on the 1st of June, 2020’, the families recalled.

‘However, despite the above order of the court, Yisa Olusola Olaniyan has continued to recklessly, lawlessly and most irresponsibly carry-out the functions and duties as Onipokia of Ipokia in flagrant disobedience of the valid and subsisting order of the High court of Ogun State’, the families noted.

‘On April 11, 2022 the Asade/Adekanbi who are the Claimants in the suit on behalf of the entire Asade, Adekanbi, Oteni and Okeleye families of Iwaye Adodo Ruling house in Ipokia further approached the High Court by filing the necessary/appropriate processes for committal proceedings against the Yisa Olusola Olaniyan and other traditional ruler(s), official(s), person(s) or group(s) for aiding and/or condoning reckless and lawless disobedience of Court Order. The committal processes still in court’, the families wrote.

‘Since March 3, 2022 Yisa Olusola Olaniyan has continued to illegally perform official functions as Onipokia of Ipokia at several occasions and proves and evidences has been filled before the court. It’s on record that Yisa Olusola has installed over Fifteen (15) head of villages (Baales) in the last two (2,) years of the ruling against the order of the court of competent jurisdiction.

‘On Thursday, 16th day of May, 2024, Yisa Olusola Olaniyan, in his full regalia and paraphernalia of office as Onipokia and in company of other designated Traditional Rulers of Ipokia Local Government hosted the new Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service’, the families alleged.

‘This action of Yisa Olaniyan is contemptuous, abuse of court order and an affront to constituted authority (Court) and total disrespect to Hon Justice Ogunfowora ruling of the court of competent jurisdiction’.

‘We wish to warn (with courteous regards) Yewa Land Traditional Count, Chiefs including persons, groups, bodies or associations that it is contemptuous, and a criminal offence to accord respect to, or recognize or address Yisa Olusola Olaniyan as Onipokia of Ipokia, or address him as such in any way or manner either directly or by implications. We are law abiding and we believe in the rule of law.

Amebo news online reports that signatories of the statement on behalf of the Iwaye Adodo ruling house include Prince Kayode Okeleye (Okeleye Royal Family), Prince Alhaji Ganiu Rafiu Oteni (Oteni Royal Family), Prince Iris Adekanb (Adekanbi royal family) and Prince Dauda Adetunji Fatola Asade (Asade Royal Family)