Ondo High court dethrones monarch after nine years of legal tussle

Oba Michael Adetunji Oluwole, the Olute of Ute in the Ose council area of the state, has been deposed by an Ondo High court sitting in Owo, Ondo state. 

The dethroned monarch has no claim to the throne, according to Justice Ademola Enikuomehin, who delivered the verdict and mandated a new selection process from within the Olule Omoloja ruling house bloodline. 

Oluwole, a retired major, was also ordered by Justice Enikuomehin to cease presenting himself as the town's traditional ruler. 

The deposed monarch has no title to the throne, according to the judge who ordered a new selection process from within the ruling family lineage of Olule Omoloja.

The retired Army commander was not a member of the governing house chosen to take the king in the town, the Court further upheld. The Judge claims Oluwole shouldn't become King because he is a member of the town's Kingmakers and has no claim to the crown. 

After 29 years of legal wrangling, the Court then granted the petitioners damages against the deposed king and mandated a new selection procedure. 

Speaking about the ruling, the claimant's attorney, Mr. Adewumi Fabuluje, stated that the Olule Omolaja Ruling House had finally won. He also mentioned that the case had been pending in various courts since 1995.

According to Fabuluje, the case was sent back to the High Court by the Supreme Court for a new trial following an Appellate Court decision.

Source