A High Court of Ondo State has affirmed Abodi, whose seat is at Ikoya, as unequalled traditional ruler of the entire Ikale land. Citing lack of merit, the court sitting at Ondo and presided over by Justice O.A Adegbehingbe dismissed the suit filed by some lesser monarchs to contest the immemorial rulership of Ikale land by the Abodi.
The aggrieved monarchs are Obas Thomas Oluwole Adesayo (Ahaba of Ajagba); Williams Akinlade (Halu of Aye); Z.A Oyewumi (Laragunsi of Iyansan); and John Ebunola Aiyeku (Obagberume of Igbodigo) who filed the suit for themselves and the entire aggrieved members of the Council of Ikale Obas, the claimants, against His Royal Majesty, Abodi of Ikoya, Oba G.B Faduyile, the defendant.
The claimants had sought the court’s declaration that by the instrument of appointment and the letter of appointment issued to Oba Faduyile, his rightful designation is Abodi of Ikoya, and consequently, his area of authority and lordship is limited and confined to Ikoya in Okitipupa Local Government.
They also claimed that in the history, custom and tradition of Ikale people, no traditional ruler exercises paramountcy and consenting authority over the other in Ikale land. The aggrieved monarchs sought an order of injunction restraining the defendant or any successive holder of the Abodi chieftaincy title from parading or presenting himself to the public or any institution as Abodi of Ikale land.
In his counter claims, Oba Faduyile prayed the court to declare that “the office described as ‘Abodi of Ikoya’ in the defendant/counter claimant’s instrument of office and in the declaration dated 4th May, 1994 approved on 26th May, 1994 and registered on the 1st of June, 1994 is the same office which, by the history, native law and custom, customary and traditional usages of Ikale speaking people of Ondo State (claimants inclusive), is known and addressed as the ‘Abodi of Ikale Land.”
Faduyile consequently sought, among others, a declaration that the correct appellation of the Abodi, whose seat is at Ikoya, Ondo State, is the Abodi of Ikale Land.
Justice Adegbehingbe, after hearing the evidence of parties, their witnesses and addresses of the counsel, dismissed the claims of the aggrieved monarchs as lacking merit, and declared their suit as an abuse of the court process.
The judge granted part of the defendant’s counter claims, declaring that;
• by the history, native law and custom, customary and traditional usages of the Ikale speaking people of Ondo State, the correct appellation of the Abodi, whose seat is at Ikoya, Ondo State, is Abodi of Ikaleland;
• the Abodi is the only Oba amongst the Ikale speaking people to ever be addressed from the earliest days of Ikale history as “of Ikale land”;
• it is only the Abodi, in his capacity as the Abodi of Ikale land who can and has been installing people into “Ikale land” honorary chieftancies;
• the Abodi is the flagship of all Obas amongst the Ikale speaking people and has always presided over any meeting of Ikale Obas except when there is a vacancy in the office of Abodi;
• in view of the history of Ikaleland, roles of the Abodi in Ikaleland and usages of the appellation of Abodi of Ikaleland, every description of the Abodi as “of Ikoya” is a misnormer and the defendant is entitled to make representation to any appropriate person, authority or governmental agency, as may be required or thought necessary by him, to effect a correction.
• the claimants are restrained, jointly and severally, whether by themselves, agents or privies, from denying that the correct appellation of the Abodi, whose seat is at Ikoya, Ondo State, is the Abodi of Ikale land.
