By Miracle Ogunde
Five ruling houses in Ode Erinje community of Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State, have rejected the reported approval of the appointment of Prince Oladele Fredrick Akinmoye as Orungberuwa of Ode – Erinje.
This was contained in a letter addressed to Ondo state governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa through their legal counsel, Olusanmi Tobase & Company and made available to news men on Friday.
The letter reads in part, “The attention of our clients have been drawn to a recent publication in which Ondo State Government has approved the appointment of PRINCE OLADELE FREDRICK AKINMOYE as Orungberuwa of Ode – Erinje.
“Our clients have also reliably informed us that the Ondo State Government is now planning to present a Staff of Office to the said PRINCE OLADELE FREDRICK AKINMOYE.
“We hereby raise our clients’ fundamental objection to the above executive decision and the proposed presentation of Staff of Office by Ondo State Government as being a deliberate violation of a subsisting order of interlocutory injunction granted in the aforesaid suit in which the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ondo State is the 5th defendant.
The order of interlocutory injunction is as follows:
“All the claimants and the defendants in this case, their agents, privies, representatives, servants, employees, officials or anybody claiming through them or any person(s) are hereby restrained from nominating, appointing, selecting, electing, installing anybody or person as the Orungberuwa of Erinje pending final determination of this suit.” A copy of the Order is attached herewith as ANNEXURE A.
“Subsequently, upon our Office intimating the Office of the Attorney General of Ondo State with the above order of interlocutory injunction, the Office of the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary had further acknowledged the subsisting order of interlocutory injunction and wrote to our Office a letter in which an assurance was given as follows:
“The process of installing a new Orungberuwa of Ode – Erinje has been forestalled by the Order of Court in Suit Number HOK/34/2016.
Consequently, there can be no valid step(s) taken to install a new Orungberuwa of Ode – Erinje as the said order of court subsists. Consequently, any further steps taken will be an exercise in futility.” A copy of the Letter from the Office of the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary dated 4th August, 2021 is attached herewith as ANNEXURE B.
It continues, “Your Excellency, there is therefore no further issue or argument or any doubts that the Ondo State Government, which is being represented in the aforesaid suit by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, is bound by the contents of the terms of the interlocutory injunction and the official document from the Office of the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary.
“While we have a strong feeling that Ondo State Government has not been properly advised in this matter, we, again and for the umpteenth time, strongly commend the aforesaid order of court and the official position of the Attorney General as stated above to your Excellency.
“Your Excellency, the rule of law must be encouraged to hold sway in Ondo State in the current democratic dispensation.
“We therefore demand as follows:
(1) Immediate withdrawal of the approval of appointment issued to PRINCE OLADELE FREDRICK AKINMOYE as Orungberuwa of Ode – Erinje pending final determination of the said suit.
(2) A consequential suspension of the proposed presentation of staff of office to PRINCE OLADELE FREDRICK AKINMOYE as Orungberuwa of Ode – Erinje pending final determination of the said suit.
(3) A stay of all governmental steps or actions on Orungberuwa of Ode – Erinje chieftaincy pending final determination of the said suit.
“Your Excellency, kindly accept the assurances of our best regards for your Excellency and other members of the Executive Council of Ondo State.”
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