Hearing in the lingering kingship tussle in Modakeke town, Osun State has been adjourned to April 13.
The chieftaincy case, which was instituted in court in 2018 opened for hearing for the first time on March 9 with one witness cross-examined.
Members of the Ogunsua ruling house in Modakeke (plaintiffs) had in suit number HMD/6/2018, challenged the right of Chief Moses Oyediran, Balogun of Modakeke, to rule as king in the town.
The Ogunsua ruling house, claiming that their progenitor (Wingbolu), who founded Modakeke, bestowed exclusive right to reign as kings in the town upon them, alleged that some chiefs collaborated to distort history by usurping their right to the throne for 84 years.
During the proceedings at the state high court, Modakeke on Tuesday, Prince Azees Akinsanya of Ile Oba Ogunsua, Modakeke, said in his prayer to the court that “I want the court to serve us justice.”
He insisted that there was no amended declaration on the Modakeke chieftaincy as claimed by defendants in the case, saying only the descendants of Baba Agba Wingbolu have right to be king in the town. He also argued that a situation in which Ogunsua chiefs claimed the right to thebthrone as a king is ambiguous and unacceptable.
He alleged that trouble crept into the ascendancy system during the reigns of Sanusi Oyewusi who unsuspectingly submitted to the giving undue access to some chiefs who turned round to lay claim to the throne.
Asked by counsels to the defendants if he was aware of the peace initiative and mediation made by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, extending right of kingship to others in the town, Akinsaya said, “I don’t know about that.”
However, implying that the kingship is not the exclusive preserve of the Ogunsua family, Chief Goke Akinrotimi, defendants’ counsel, said while cross-examining Akinsanya that apart from Sanusi Oyewusi, no member of the Wingbolu royal house has ruled in Modakeke for more than eight decades.
Putting a question to Akinsanya, Chief Akinrotimi said, “You are aware that it was the recommendation of the Olatoye panel that guided the Ooni to take action on the Obaship matter.”
Dapo Adekunle, lead counsel to the plaintiff, who expressed satisfaction that hearing on the case had commenced, said, “At least, we have achieved the first success. Since 2018, the matter came up for first hearing today (March 9). For us to have opening of the hearing today, we give glory to God.
“We have called one of our witnesses today, I don’t want to preempt the judgement of the court. That would be too contemptuous. I know our claims are intact. It is for the judge to decide.”
Justice A.L. Adegoke of the Osun State High Court, Modakeke, who advised that the counsels should keep to court time during cross-examination, said once the hearing had started, they should be economical with time usage in order not for the case not to foot-drag.
