The Magistrate handling the suit filed by the Oluwo-Oke of Iwo Oke in Osun State, Oba Kadiri Adeoye, against Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi on issues relating to crime of internet fraud, Mr Olusola Aluko has stepped aside.
Magistrate Aluko made the pronouncement on Friday at the resumed hearing of the case in Osogbo, the Osun State Capital.
He predicated his stance on the need to “uphold the sanctity and integrity of the Judiciary” adding that the case file will now return to the Chief Registrar of the State High Court for prompt action.
According to him, “having looked at matters bordering on this case and alleged bias on the matter, I need not make any pronouncement on this matter”.
“I have to adjourn this case, and submit the case file to the office of the state Chief Judge which will assign another Magistrate to handle the case,” he said.
However, in line with pronouncement of the Magistrate, the Plaintiff’s Counsel, Mr Soji Oyetayo had approached the court with a letter of withdrawal informing the court of the resolve of his client, Oba Kadiri Adeoye to discontinue the case against Oba Akanbi.
In his words “Several eminent personalities within and outside the state have intervened in the matter and in the interest of peace, we decided to withdraw this case.
“In view of this, we seek your authority to withdraw this application, ” he said.
Meanwhile, the Counsel to the Oluwo of Iwo, Chief Laide Yekinni told the court that the traditional ruler had retracted his earlier comments on the order by Magistrate Aluko compelling the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fimihan Adeoye to produce Oba Akanbi who described it as “a shame on judiciary to have such magistrate sitting” in court on Friday.
Chief Yekinni who said he was aligned with the position of the Iwo traditional council on the issue pleaded with the court.
Present at the hearing were several traditional rulers, led by the Olowu of Kuta, Oba Hammed Adekunle Makama, who had earlier pleaded with the court to “temper justice with mercy”.
Oba Makama while pleading with the court stated that “ the Oluwo of Iwo at any time did not ridicule the integrity and order of a court of competent jurisdiction or meant to disregard the law.”
He explained that Oba Akanbi was absent in court due to some health challenges and could not as a custodian of culture, norms and values prove to be above the law of the land.
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