By Charles Akinbode
A state High Court sitting in Osogbo has declared vacant the stool of the Olaaresa of Masifa, in Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State.
The presiding judge, Justice S. O. Falola, on Thursday declared the Olaaresa stool vacant following the disobedience of the order made by Justice Falola as well as an earlier preservatory order made by Justice L. O. Arojo of Ejigbo High Court, ordering parties not to tamper with the suit until it is finally determined.
At the resumed hearing of the suit today (Thursday) before Justice Falola, the Vacation Judge, Mr. Olugbenga Fayemiwo, the Counsel to the 6th and 7th Defendants complained to the Court that the 2nd Defendant , Barrister Josiah Awolade has disobeyed the Court order and installed himself as the Olaaresa of Masifa, Osun State.
Fayemiwo, in his submission, alerted the court of the implications of disobedience of court order, arguing that an act of Barrister Applied, a very senior lawyer, who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1980, was an invitation to anarchy.
Rather than serving as a Minister in the Temple of Justice, Fayemiwo complained loudly that Barrister Awolade’s disobedience of court order has dragged the garment of the court’s Majesty in the mud and should be heavily punished for it.
Fayemiwo’s position was in support of the Counsel to the Claimant’s, Barrister I. T. Tewogbade who also confirmed that Awolade indeed, disobeyed the order of the Court.
In his ruling, Justice Falola declared that despite the purported installation of Barrister Awolade as king against the earlier order of his Court, the chieftaincy of Olaaresa of Masifa, Ejigbo Local Government of Osun State is vacant till date.
Justice Falola returned the case file to the Ejigbo High Court presided over by Hon Justice Arojo while urging that the activities of Barrister Awolade should be investigated and if found culpable of contempt of Court, should be severely punished.
