Date: 2016-10-11

THE Traditional Council of Chiefs in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara has expelled a high chief and suspended two others.

The council expelled the Obale Aran of Omu-Aran, Chief Jubril Arowoduye, over alleged insubordination and dereliction of duty and suspended indefinitely Chief Hassan Oyinloye, the Oloye Aran, and Chief Adebayo Omiyale, the Asaba Aran.

Both the expelled and suspended members were asked to submit their identity cards to the council with immediate effect.

The expulsion and suspension orders were contained in a statement jointly issued on Monday in Omu-Aran by the paramount ruler and Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Ibitoye, and the council's Secretary, Chief Joseph Adesiyan.

According to the statement, four other chiefs were to forfeit six months allowance for absence during the council's weekly meetings between April 1 and Sept. 30. Those affected included Chief Amos Bamigboye (Odofin Chief Aran), Chief Suleiman Salawu (Aro Aran), Chief Jimoh Olatunde (Ejemu Aran) and Chief Adebayo Ranti (Obaro Aran).

The statement enjoined the Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Area, the Omu-Aran Divisional Police Officer and the Director of the Department of the State Services (DSS) to take note of the development.

It added that the chiefs were sanctioned over their roles in a litigation involving the traditional council and some claimants over the appointment of a new Edemo Aran for the community. According to the statement, the roles played by the chiefs individually and jointly were capable of threatening the peace of the community, if not promptly checked.

It would be recalled that Ibitoye recently installed a new Edemo Aran, Chief Salawu Dosunmu, the Arojoye 11, in his palace in Omu-Aran, following his affirmation by the court. The installation of Dosunmu was sequel to a judgment of the Kwara State High Court delivered in Ilorin and which ruled in favour of the council's nominee.

Two claimants, Akande Oyinloye and Joseph Awoniyi, had approached the court on Feb. 24, 2014, challenging the nomination and confirmation of Dosunmu as the new Edemo Aran by the council. They had based their argument on the fact that appointment to the stool of Edemo Aran is by competition and not by rotation.

The defendants, including Ibitoye, on their part, claimed that after the demise of the late Edemo Aran, Chief Yusuf Abidoye from Adenigba compound on April 14, 2010, it was the turn of Alaa compound of Dosunmu to produce the next Edemo Aran. In his ruling, Justice S.T. Umar had declared that the evidence of the defendants on rotation was more credible and reliable.

He affirmed that it was the turn of Alaa compound to produce the next Edemo Aran. According to the judgment, Exhibit D10 written by all Aran chiefs, including DW3, admitted that the purported installation of the second claimant as Edemo Aran was an error which had breached the peace of the town.

"The affected chiefs apologised and suspended the exercise, promising to do the right thing. "Exhibit D11 does not show that the first defendant, who is the Olomu of Omu-Aran, imposed anyone on them.

"Having held that the evidence of DW1 and DW2 are more credible, I therefore declare that the appointment of the second defendant from Alaa compound has sailed through as the next Edemo Aran," Umar ruled.

(NAN)