The Centre for Transparency in Government (CTG) has drawn the attention of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, to an alleged violation of a court order in the case in respect of Alawo of Awo Stool pending at the Akure Division of the Appeal Court.

CTG while reminding the Appeal Court President that delaying justice was tantamount to denial of justice to the parties involved in the said matter, alleged that the 2nd Appellant allegedly exploited to delay window to perpetrate fraud by violating the order of a lower court which had ruled that the status quo should remain.

In the letter which was addressed to the Court of Appeal President, the Transparency group attributed the said violation to the one year delay of the case with Appeal N0: CA/AK/58/2021 on Suit N0: HOS/84/2020 in respect of Alawo of Awo Stool pending in the Appeal Court, Akure Division, where one Taiwo Abdulrasaq Adegboye is the appellant.

CTG, in its letter complained that while the waiting for hearing in the case to commence continued, certain parties in the matter have violated the order of a lower court by crowning the 2nd appellant illegally as new Alawo, while other parties were waiting for the pronouncement of the Appeal Court on the matter.

CTG insisted that the 2nd Appellant/Respondent (Taiwo Abdulrasaq Adegboye) and his group in the appeal suit had capitalized on the delay in releasing the date for the commencement of the case for over 12 months now.

According to CTG, the crowning of the 2nd Appellant/Respondent (Taiwo Abdulrasaq Adegboye) was done to evade justice as it alleged that Taiwo Adegboye committed an act of forgery, as well as other unlawful acts with regard to the stool.

The letter dated 20th of December, 2021 and signed by CTG Director of Mobilization, Comrade Michael James, and forwarded to the Court of Appeal President and also copied to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman, National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Mary Odili, the Vice Chairman of National Judicial Council (NJC), Justices of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division through their Registrar and Mallam Abubakar Malami, the Honourable Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

The Letter reads in part: “We also wish to intimate you that Adegboye Taiwo Rasaq forged every document in relation to the issue of Alawo Stool after the demise of Oba Musa Olatunbosun Adebayo, Akinsilo II, by thinking that he could become a monarch through the fraudulent means with the help of some Osun State Government officials.

“Since the same appellate Court sitting in Akure refused to give date for the commencement of hearing on the Appeal N0:CA/AK/58/2021, since January 2021, the appellants had moved the documents relating to the Appeal Court in Akure, hence the letter by the watchdog, CTG.

“This delay in adjudication on the case by Akure Division of the Court of Appeal has made 8th to 11th defendants in the suit to violate the orders of the lower Court, that all parties in this case should maintain the Status Quo. The 2nd Appellant/ Respondent (Adegboye Taiwo Rasaq) thought that he could use the respected Appellate Court as escape route, to evade justice on the allegation of forgery and determination of the authentic members of Abioye Ruling House/Compound, Awo, at the lower Court, as contained therein in the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the order and judgment of an Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo and Ede respectively; delivered by Presiding Judges, Justice M.O. Agboola and Justice A.O. Ayoola on 27th day of August, 2020 and 13th day of January, 2021 respectively.

“ CTG believes that appellate Court as an authority in the temple of truth and justice, should not allow its organ to be used by fraudulent individuals in Nigeria by waking up to its constitutional responsibility of adjudicating without fear or favour and without further delay on the subject matter.”

“In conclusion, CTG wishes to inform your humble office that this letter is necessary for the sake of posterity in our efforts to ensure quick delivery of justice by our Lordship in the temple of justice to the parties in any matter in Nigeria and in consonance with the recent postulation of President Muhammadu Buhari, and Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.”

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