A Lagos High Court has ordered parties in the chieftaincy tussle of Badore community in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the suit.
Justice E. I. Alakija (Mrs) made the order in Suit No: LD/7185GCNW/2020 between three claimants and four defendants.
The claimants are: Alhaji Salia Owolabi Yisa, Alhaji Waliu Adeniran Moye and Alhaji Musaliu Buari Jatto for themselves and on behalf of the Ilu Committee and Community of Badore Village.
The defendants are: Mr Rasaki Abdullahi Jikoji, Alhaji Muyu Yusuf Jikoji, Mr Kamoru Abdullahi Jikoji and Mr Saheed Abdullahi Jikoji.
The claimants had sought an order of interlocutory injunction restraining 1st defendant Mr Rasaki Abdullahi Jikoji from parading himself as the community’s head, following his election by the chieftaincy family as Baale of Badore in line with the historical procedures of the settlement.
Mr Jikoji’s election followed the June 15, 2020 death of the immediate past Baale.
The claimants averred that the 2nd Claimant Alhaji Waliu Adeniran Moye was also approved as the Baale of Badore by the Eti-Osa LGA on September 2, 2020., adding that he was installed as Baale before the suit was filed.
But the defendants opposed him via a 14-paragraph counter-affidavit of November 2, 2020, deposed to by Prince Adeola Rasaki Jikoji.
They prayed the court to dismiss the claimants’ application for “gross disrespect” of the court, arguing that they filed their suit on August 19, 2020 while the claimants, during the pendency and with full knowledge of the suit, installed the 2nd Claimant as Baale on September 16, 2020.
In her ruling on March 22, Justice Alakija agreed with the defendants argument that the 2nd Claimants was installed while the suit was on, contrary to legal procedure.
She held: “In the light of the facts before the court, the submission of counsel, it is evident that the act of the 2nd Claimant approval/installation were carried out during the pendency of this suit.”
The honourable Justice also ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the conclusion of the suit challenging the selection of Rasaki Abdullahi Jikoji as Baale.
In his reaction, the Baale-elect, Prince Rasaki Abdullahi Jikoji advised all stakeholders to refrain from transacting business on behalf of the Chieftaincy and Badore community with the Ilu Committe and other claimants pending the final determination of the case as the family will not consider such transactions valid on the long run.
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