The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has dismissed an appeal filed by the Ogun State government challenging the legitimacy of HRM Oba Adetokunbo Tejuosho as the Olu of Kemta Orile.
The appellate court upheld the December 7, 2021 judgment of Justice A.A. Akinyemi of the Ogun State High Court, which had ruled in favor of Oba Tejuosho in the case AB/183/2020.
A three-member panel of justices comprising Hon. Justice E. Tobi JCA, Hon. Justice K.I Amadi JCA, and Hon. Justice Z.B Zubairu JCA delivered the unanimous decision, dismissing the state government’s appeal (CA/IB/89/2023).
The court declared that the purported removal or revocation of Oba Tejuosho’s appointment by the Ogun State Government and its officials was “null, void, and of no effect.”
In its ruling, the Court of Appeal granted a perpetual injunction restraining the state government, its agents, servants, or representatives from removing Oba Tejuosho from his position as king of Kemta Orile in Odeda Local Government Area.
The court also ordered the Ogun State government to pay all outstanding remunerations and entitlements due to Oba Tejuosho in his capacity as an Oba from May 13, 2019, to date, and continuously thereafter.
Oba Tejuosho was appointed during the administration of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun in 2019, in accordance with the Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State 2006.
Responding to the judgment, Oba Tejuosho expressed gratitude to the gods of his ancestors, his council of chiefs for their unwavering support, and his legal team for their tireless efforts in securing the victory.
The defendants in the case included the Ogun State Governor, Ogun State Government, Ogun State House of Assembly, the Attorney General of Ogun State, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
