Olubadan stool: Chief Judge withdraws from suit over petition

The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola, on Wednesday, withdrew from the suit filed by Chief Adebayo Oyediji challenging the installation of Oba Saliu Adetunji as the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Abimbola said that he was withdrawing because Oyediji and other claimants had written a petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC), alleging that he was present during the installation ceremony of Adetunji.
The Chief Judge had been presiding over the suit filed by Oyediji at an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan.
Abimbola said that the NJC had invited him, adding that he was shocked that it was over the petition against him.
“ I have replied the petition and I thank God, NJC has absolved me because no specific allegation of misconduct was mentioned in the petition.
“ I was not present at the installation ceremony of Olubadan, I was in my office on that day.
“ Nobody has ever written a petition against me since my long years of service both at the bar and the bench and I wonder why someone will want to tarnish my image.
“ I have few years to spend in service and I don’t want anything that will tarnish my image,’’ Abimbola said.
The judge, however, said that he had no grudge against anybody and was transferring the case to the administrative judge for reassignment.
Oyediji of Seriki Chieftancy line and other claimants had instituted the suit, claiming that it was their turn to produce the next Olubadan after Oba Samuel Odunlana’s demise.
Among the respondents in the suit are the Oyo State Government, Adetunji and the Olubadan-in-Council.