Absence Of Counsel Stalls Hearing On Obaagun Chieftaincy Case

The ongoing case of Eesa chieftaincy in Obaagun before the high court, Ikirun was yesterday, 27th April, 2023 stalled due to the absence of the counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr Nurudeen Sanusi.

Pa Olatunde Oluoti and Pa Yekini Salawu and four others had approached high court Ikirun to challenge the installation of High Chief Dauda Ajadosu as Eesa of Obaagun in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State.

The presiding Judge, Justice Isiaka Adeleke informed the court that he had received a letter from the lawyer to the plaintiffs, Mr Nurudeen Sanusi seeking adjournment of the case to another date.

The Counsel to the first defendant, Chief Dauda Ajadosu prayed the court to impose a cost of #50,000,00 on the plaintiffs’ lawyer for his failure to appear before the court for two consecutive
time. He stated that this is becoming habitual of the lawyer. He advised that Plaintiffs’ lawyer can do the court a great honour by advising his clients to withdraw their case if they realize that it has become vexatious and not necessary.

Chief Ajadosu informed the court that there has been highfalutin, pretentious and pompous information making around that the counsel to the plaintiffs would not allow the court to determine the suit.

While responding, Hon. Justice Adeleke dispelled the information as rumours and informed the court that though the plaintiffs lawyer had written a petition against him to the Chief Judge of the state demanding that the case should be re-assigned to the vacation judge who handled the case while the current judge was on vacation, an act which the judge described as forum shopping. The judge further stated that assignment of cases is the prerogative of that of the Chief Judge and that he’s not interested in any of the cases before him.

The judge, however declined the application of the counsel to the first defendant demanding for fine of #50,000,00 for conceding to an adjournment in two instances to the plaintiffs’ counsel.

Justice Adeleke who had granted five applications before the court since January, 2023, he said the court is left with only one application which is the preliminary objection filled by the defendants hearing of which was the business of the court but the hearing had been stalled by the absence of the Plaintiffs counsel for two consecutive time.

A lawyer representing the 5th Defendant, G. A Adesina asli said the attitude of the Plaintiffs and their lawyer is unbecoming. He said the Defendants have appealed the earlier ruling if the vacation judge but the defendant’s and their lawyer are still using police to harass and intimidate the person of his client having arrested him through Zone 11 police sometimes in November, 2022. He said the act is subjudice of the court and they are supposed to be advised appropriately.

The 5th Defendant in the case is HRM, Oba Jimoh Okunde, Kabiyesi Olobaagun of Obaagun.

At the end, the hon. judge urged the lawyers in the case to allow the court to concede to one of the dates suggested by the Plaintiffs’ lawyer in his letter and adjourned the case to 23rd May, 2023 for hearing of the Preliminary Objection.