Kunle Adelabu
Barring any unforeseen circumstance, new Alajede of Ijede Kingdom in ljede Local Council Development Area, may emerge this year, going by what transpired at the Lagos High Court in Ikeja, on Tuesday, as the legal battle over the vacant stool, which has been going on for about 11 years since the last Alajede, Oba Fatai Adeboye Oresanya, Ladega II and Alajede of Ijede, joined his ancestors, is nearing a conclusion.
Oba Oresanya passed on August 13, 2012.
At the last court sitting, the presiding judge, Honourable Justice Lawal Akapo, was unable to adopt the final written addresses by parties to the suit.
The judge, who said that he is bound to deliver his final judgment within 90 days as prescribed by the law, pleaded with the parties to postpone the adoption till February 8, 2024, which was agreed upon by all the parties.
Thus, the adoption was postponed till February 8 and by law, Justice Akapo, will have to deliver his judgment on the Alajede matter within three months after the final adoption.
The journey to install a new King in ljede community began on March 28, 2013, but the matter is presently in court where a party is challenging the decision of the Alajede Kingmakers for selecting an Oba-elect in person of Hon. Saheed Adefarasin Hassan, a former two – term Council Chairman, Ijede Local Council Development Association (LCDA) and former two – term Member, Lagos State House of Assembly.
The matter was instituted in the Suit No. IKD/82/2013, with Pa (Chief) Olayiwola Saka Owoyele, Prince Kazeem Amusa and Prince Babatunde Sulaimon Amusa as plaintiff/claimants, suing Hon. Saheed Hassan, Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Chief Alliu Musediku Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Governor of Lagos State, on behalf of themselves and the Idowu Ajanaku Royal family of Ijede.
Chief Adedayo Aba Ajanaku and Tunji Pero, were joined as defendants by the order of the court in January 2017.
Meanwhile, parties to the matter and the entire residents of Ijede are looking forward to the adjourned date for the final adoption as they are prepared to start the countdown towards the emergence of a new Alajede of Ijede after more than 10 years the town has been without an Oba due to protracted court cases.
