An Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, on Tuesday, reversed the sacking of 75 Coronet Obas by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
The court also ordered that the appointment of the 75 coronet Obas should subsist until the determination of their suit against the state government.
Ruling on the interlocutory injunction filed by the 75 coronet Obas through their counsel, Olumide Oniyire, the presiding judge, Justice A.A Akinyemi ordered that that the status quo regarding the appointment of the traditional rulers be maintained.
Justice Akinyemi ruled that the relationship that existed between the claimants and the defendants prior to the termination of their appointments and promotions on February 6, 2020 should be maintained pending determination of the suit before the court.
Recall that on May 13, 2019, the outgoing administration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun confirmed the appointment and upgrading of some community chiefs and village heads to coronet Obas.
The appointment was, however, reversed by the Abiodun administration on February 6, 2020.
Earlier, counsel to the claimants, Oniyire accused the state government, alongside its machineries, of intimidating and assaulting the claimants for parading themselves as monarchs.
Oniyire argued that hostility towards the purportely demoted 75 coronet Obas began after the revocation of their appointments by the state government on February 6.
The claimants’ counsel pleaded with the court to grant the interlocutory injunction and order that the status quo remain till the court determined the legality of the appointment.
He said, “The claimants were sacked and despite the fact that the case is still in court, the defendants have been harassing, intimidating and embarrassing the claimants in their various communities where they reign.
“Chieftaincy cases are very sensitive matters. We expected that the defendants should have waited until the determination of the case.
“We are applying for accelerated hearing of the case and we pray that the status quo before the letter of revocation should remain and be maintained.”
Responding, defence counsel, O.A Dankuwo, urged the court to give them a date to file their processes.
Dankuwo argued that the status quo should be after the revocation of the appointment of the coronet Obas, adding that the proper time to maintain status quo should be at the time of the revocation.
“The act has already be done before they came to court and as such, the status quo should be after the revocation of appointments,” she argued.
The court then adjourned the matter to July 7, 2020.