The Muslim Ummar in Ekiti State has raised the alarm over an alleged attempt by some political forces and some elements in the Judiciary to pervert justice to give way for the removal of the Alawo of Awo Ekiti, Oba Abdulazees Olaleye.
The Muslims, who addressed newsmen in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, via the National Council of Muslim Youths Organisation (NACOMYO), Ekiti chapter, said it finds it appalling that the State Judiciary could entertain a case that had been determined by the Appeal Court and became statute-barred in a conspiratorial move to remove Oba Olaleye.
NACOMYO Coordinator, Tajudeen Ahmed, in a speech, entitled: ‘ The emasculation and strangulation of Rule Law in Alawo Obaship Tussle’, said Judiciary has no reason to entertain any case already determined by the Appeal, if not for conspiracy.
‘On the 19th September 2020, we addressed a press conference condemning the attempt by the Ekiti State Government to strangulate justice in Awo Ekiti over government’s decision to institute an administrative panel of the Chieftaincy Committee of Ekiti State Traditional Council to review a case that has been determined to finality by the courts on Alawo of Awo Ekiti matter.’
‘The resolve of Ekiti State Government to institute the illegal Committee was borne out of monumental pressures being mounted on her by some few Awo Powers and Principalities that are not comfortable with the emergence of a Muslim as an Oba in the ancient town of Awo Ekiti.’
‘Ekiti State Government in a circular dated 4th November 2020, via the Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, said, ‘it will be expedient for the government to remove the Alawo after five years in office as this would give the government a bad image and set a bad precedent and that any aggrieved party may approach a court of competent jurisdiction for redress having explored and exhausted the required local remedy’.
The NACOMYO leader added further said “On our part, we state without equivocation, that the attempt to re-litigate on the Alawo of Awo Ekiti chieftaincy issue is against all established principles of law. We equally state that the attempt to remove Oba Alawo of Awo Ekiti through means that are not known to the Chiefs Law is contrary to the principle of rule of law.
‘As advocates of due process, rule of law, justice and fair play, NACOMYO Ekiti State Chapter condemns the ongoing emasculation and strangulation of rule of law in the Alawo of Awo Ekiti chieftaincy matter’.
The NACOMYO leader further requested the police to provide adequate security for the monarch, owing to alleged rising threats to his life and property by his antagonists.
‘People of goodwill must condemn this. The government must save the integrity of the judiciary because it is a very strategic pillar of any democracy’.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK