Osun Monarch docked over removal of female chief

The paramount ruler of Ijesaland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adekunke Aromolaran, on Thursday appeared before an Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa over the removal of the Yeyerise of Ilesa, Chief Module Obiwole.

The monarch, who was dressed in white agbada, with a white cap was followed to the court room by a retinue of chiefs including other female chiefs.



The kabiyesi is the Defence Witness in the case instituted by Obiwole who is challenging her alleged unlawful removal as the chief(Yeyerise) by the monarch.

The monarch was accorded respect by Justice W. O Akanbi as a seat was provided for him outside the dock and was allowed to sit comfortably throughout the duration of his cross examination by the plaintiff’s counsel, Chief Boye Williams.

The monarch was led in evidence by his counsel, Mr. Jola Akintola, and he adopted his written statements on oath dated March 25th and July 1st, 2014 as his evidence in chief before the court.

The cross examination lasted over two hours and the monarch was obviously irked by some of the questions but the presiding judge shielded him in order to prevent argument between the monarch and the plaintiff’s counsel.

The plaintiff was accused of constantly flouting the Owa’s order and representing the monarch at public functions without his consent.
She was suspended for three months and was subsequently removed from office by the monarch.

During cross examination, Oba Aromolaran agreed with the plaintiff’s counsel that Yeyerise chieftaincy title had been recognised since the time of the Western Region but he added that the title had also been derecognised.

Asked if the monarch had the power to try criminal offences which the Yeyerise was accused of, the monarch answered in the negative saying he could not do that since he did not have personal police force to investigate.

The courtroom was filled to the brim with chiefs and residents of the town who trooped to the court to watch the proceedings.
Justice Akanbi told the monarch not to see the plaintiff’s counsel as being disrespectful due to some of the questions put to him during the cross examination.

He said that lawyers were at liberty to ask question but the judge said that he would never allow any counsel to denigrate a monarch and neither would he allow monarchs to disrespect lawyers in his court.

Akintola re-examined the monarch to clear some of the answers he considered to be ambitious.
Justice Akanbi adjourned the adoption of final written addresses to March 10,2015.