An Ibadan High Court has ordered the service of the court process through substituted means on the defendants in the case instituted by former Governor Rashidi Ladoja against Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, and the 11 newly-crowned Obas.
Ladoja’s lawyer, Mr M.O. Folorunso, had told the court when case came up for hearing that all attempts to serve the defendants in their respective home addresses failed, as they were not available to receive the court service.
Upon hearing this, the trial judge, Justice M. O. Adegbola, ordered that substituted service be employed through pasting of the originating process in the palace of the Olubadan at Alarere area of Ibadan.
Adegbola further ordered the return of the case file back to the Chief Justice of Oyo State for reassignment declaring: “I am close to the parties in the case.
“My closeness to the claimant, the second and fourth defendants will impugn on my credibility and that of the judiciary.
“The best in the circumstance is to step down in the handing of the matter.”
Adegbola specifically said that the court should be aware of his closeness to Ladoja as well as the second and fourth efendants.
“In the interest of justice, I have no option than to ask another judge to adjudicate on the matter,” he stated.
Ladoja, who is the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, had dragged the Oba Balogun, Gov. Seyi Makinde and 11 others to court over the coronation of the elevated Ibadan high chiefs.
In the suit, the Olubadan and the governor were listed as the first and second respondent respectively.
Others listed in the suit included: the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and the 10 newly-crowned Obas in Ibadanland.
Ladoja, in the suit filed by Folorunso, accused the Olubadan of plotting to prevent him from ascending the throne of Olubadan when it is his time.
He further alleged that the plan was that if he “refused to be crowned, he would be denied of his status as the Otun Olubadan and would, therefore, not be permitted to ascend the throne of Olubadan when it is his turn.”
