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The Plaintiff and the Defendant, Chief Ogundokun & Oba Akanbi |
It appears
the war between elder statesman and eminent Nigerian, High Chief Abiola Ogundokun and the Oluwo of Iwo Kingdom, Osun State (South West Nigeria), Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi (Ilufemiloye-Telu 1) is taking a
new dimension in year 2018 as the veteran politician cum media baron approached
the court of law in the first week of the year and slammed Oba Akanbi a N1 Billion (One Billion Naira). The lawsuit was filed
at an Osun State High Court.
disclosed in series of court papers obtained by Asabeafrika early in the week through a confidential source. Ogundokun,
a former National Publicity Secretary of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) under the regime of President Shehu Shagari and a former member of the Constituent Assembly 1977
is suing the royal father for defamation of character, malicious falsehood via
cyber bullying and reputation assassination.
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The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi |
was filed at the High Court of Justice
in Osun State, South West Nigeria
(Osogbo Division) by Olayinka Osokoya of
O.A. Osokoya & Co, the counsel to Chief
Abiola Ogundokun on Monday, 8th of January 2018.
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The Basorun Musulumi of Iwo land, High Chief Abiola Oladepo Ogundokun |
International Magazine have
been at loggerhead with the youthful Iwo monarch since April 2017 when Oba Akanbi stripped Ogundokun of his traditional and Islamic titles over what he termed
‘insubordination to his rulership’ by Ogundokun.
revocation of all chieftaincy titles of Ogundokun
ranging from Islamic, social and traditional titles after claiming to be the
custodian of all spheres of social sway in Iwo
land.
Akanbi was said to have announced to some selected chiefs at his palace that
“As the ruler and custodian of all
traditional, cultural, religious and social clubs in Iwo land, I hereby relief
him (Ogundokun) of all his
traditional and social titles ranging from Basorun Musulumi of Iwo land, member
of Iwo Board of Trustees (IBOT), Otun Balogun of Iwo land and other proposed
titles that might be accorded to him from Iwo”.
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The Oluwo with Ex-Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido |
for the monarch’s action is said to be rooted in bad feelings towards Ogundokun, who allegedly advised the monarch against
serial monetization of royal titles given to subjects. (The Oba is
accused of collecting money from different sources to dish out one single
title).
swift legal reaction by Chief Ogundokun, an Osun State High Court in Osogbo
presided over by Justice Ayoola granted an order
restraining Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi from removing, and, or appointing
another person as the Bashorun Musulumi of Iwo land pending
the determination of the main suit.
The court, reacting to a motion sent in by High
Chief Abiola Ogundokun’s lawyer, one
Barrister Soji Oyetayo on May 11,
2017 restrained the Iwo monarch from
stripping Chief Abiola Ogundokun of
his Bashorun Musulumi of Iwoland title and equally stopped him from appointing,
installing and turbaning another Bashorun Musulumi of Iwo land
pending the determination of the main suit.
reviewed all the submissions of Chief
Ogundokun including all the citations provided before arriving at the ruling.
The Monday, June 19, 2017 ruling was based on the application for motion on
notice brought pursuant to Order 38 rule
4 of Osun High Court seeking for an
order of interlocutory injunction restraining Oluwo, Oba Abdulrasheed
Adewale Akanbi and Imam
Fatai Olododo (Chief Imam of
Iwo Central Mosque) from installing another Bashorun Musulumi of Iwo land as the Oba
has no moral right to discredit the injunction or discretion of a religious
society.
arising!
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High Chief Abiola Ogundokun, Basorun Musulumi and Obanla of Iwo land |
suit, Ogundokun is demanding for One
billion Naira only, being aggravated and exemplary damages from the
defendant—Oba Akanbi for malicious
defamation of his person, reputation and character across the world via cyber
bullying.
possessions, an order for the written retraction of several false allegations
made against his person by the Oluwo
in public and private spaces eg, via YouTube,
Internet and other e-platforms, with
a public apology made in not less than 4 Nigerian newspapers.
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Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi (Telu 1) The Oluwo of Iwo |
Chairman, Election Tactical Committee
of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in
Osun State is also asking the court
of law to restrain the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi and his
agents from further defaming or maligning his person, reputation and character
in whatever form, either by social media, television, newspapers, magazines,
radio, blogs, YouTube, and all other electronic platforms, or online medium in
whatever form. The plaintiff is equally asking for the sum of N5,000,000,00
(Five Million Naira only) as cost of legal action.
Court document reads in part that:
is a prominent Iwo Indigene,
Politician, Elder Statesman, High Chief, Philanthropist, Publisher and well
respected community leader of Iwo, Osun State of Nigeria, residing at Ogundokun residence, Ibajedewa
lodge, Oloola’s compound, Iwo, Osun
State of Nigeria.
Palace, Iwo, Osun State of Nigeria.
plaintiff has contributed greatly to the development and growth of Iwo and its environs (Comprising of all
the three Local Government Areas in Iwo
land i.e, Iwo, Ayedire and Ola-Oluwa Local Governments)
is also a member of the board of trustees of Iwo Central Mosque, a registered body with the Corporate Affairs
Commission (Attached with a copy of certificate of registration signed by one Bello Mahmud with
Abiola Ogundokun’s name as 4th trustee)
The
plaintiff also avers that he was equally appointed as a member of Iwo Board of Trustees by a letter with Ref. No: ITC/R/APP/003. (Copy
attached)
the said letter as well as a series of letters of awards and recognition for
all his contribution to the development of Iwo
land, Osun State (Series of
documents attached for confirmation)
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High Chief Abiola Ogundokun with his ‘Royal son’ Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi (Oluwo of Iwo) when the going was sweet |
plaintiff avers that because of his contribution to the development and growth
of Islam in Iwo land, the Islamic clerics from the three Local Government Areas
in Iwo
land under the headship of the Chief Imam
of Iwo, conferred on him the Chieftaincy title of Basorun Musulumi of Iwo land sometimes in Year 2000 and he was
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Ogundokun introduces Oluwo to the Adefuyes when the going was sweet |
subsequently turbaned as such by the Chief
Imam of Iwo. The plaintiff shall, at the trial of this suit, rely on the
certificate issued in his favor when the said chieftaincy title was conferred on
him (Copies of letters signed by Sheikh
Alhaji Imran Asiru, Chief Imam of Iwo
Land/Chairman, league of Imams and Alfas in Iwo land and his Secretary, Muhamed Tajudeen Olowe, dated 8th
October & 28th October, 1999 and confirmation certificate
attached)
The
plaintiff avers that as a result of his immense and unprecedented contributions
towards the sustainable growth and development of Osun State and Nigeria as
a whole, he has received several awards and recognition in and outside the
state of Osun which includes:
Youth Organization
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Chief Abiola Ogundokun, felt disappointed over Oluwo’s action and now wants redemption |
plaintiff avers that he is a member of several International organizations such
as: The International chains of
Industrial and Technical Advertising Agencies, (ICTA), Member, Advertising club of New York, Member, Industrial Advertising Incorporated, Member of the Association of Advertising Practitioners in
Nigeria to mention but a few.
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The Oluwo of Iwo enjoying himself inside his majestic palace allegedly built for him by High Chief Abiola Ogundokun |
plaintiff avers that he has worked with several media and publishing firms in
and outside Nigeria which has earned
him a global image and recognition
plaintiff avers that as a journalist, he has worked in various places and in
different capacities to wit:
Hello fans of OGUN and OGUN “Eko Participant”
Commercial representative of the defunct Sketch
and New Nigerian Newspapers in the
whole of the then Western Region of Nigeria
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Chief Abiola Ogundokun introduces the Oluwo to ex-Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba during a public event |
Times of Nigeria
Broadcaster of the Western Nigeria Broadcasting and Television, (the very
first Television in Nigeria)
Mirror”, a monthly magazine and later established “Conscience International
Magazine” currently circulating worldwide
The plaintiff avers that as a young politician, he contested and won the Councillor-ship of Election and was sworn in as Councillor under the old Iwo Local Government Area and as a
philanthropist, he donated his salaries and allowances to the Iwo Community to enhance the growth and
development of Iwo town
philanthropy, he was massively voted into the Constituent Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1977
the Constitutional Review Panel
The plaintiff avers that in the year 1996, he was made the chairman of
the National Reconciliation Committee
of the 250 Eminent Yoruba Leaders Forum where he led a presentation on a United Nations fact finding mission to
Nigeria in Ile-Ife
support both morally and financially towards his post-coronation as the Oluwo of Iwo.
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Oba Adewale Akanbi & Chief Abiola Ogundokun when the going was good |
trying moments and during his problem with the Oluwo-Oke of Iwo-Oke which culminated in a quasi-criminal charge
brought against him by the Oluwo-Oke of
Iwo-Oke
Olusegun Obasanjo (A former Nigerian Head of State & Elder
Statesman) when it became apparent that the Defendant might be sent to jail for
contempt of court
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Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi (Telu 1) ‘Can he really pay Ogundokun a billion Naira?’ |
not have withdrawn the case against the Defendant.
strangely after an honest advice rendered to him by the plaintiff, not to
extort money from several persons jostling for Chieftaincy titles but from
those he would confer with such Chieftaincy titles.
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Chief Abiola Ogundokun takes Oba Adewale Akanbi to Ex-Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido and Ambassador Sale during a public outing |
the Defendant as he subsequently and purportedly announced that he has been
stripped and/or removed from all the chieftaincy titles in Iwo land, including the Basorun
Musulumi of Iwo land
instituted an action at the High Court of
Justice, Oshogbo challenging the
action of the Defendant.
interlocutory injunction restraining the Defendant, his servants, agents or
privies from appointing, installing and/or turbaning another person as Basorun Musulumi of Iwo land pending the
determination of the suit and same was granted by the court.
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High Chief Abiola Ogundokun set to battle Oba Adewale Akanbi for character assassination |
suit as well as the Certified True Copy of the Enrollment of Order.
strip him of his chieftaincy titles but called several people including Iwo chiefs to the palace where he said
series of uncomplimentary and defamatory things against the plaintiff which the
defendant recorded in a video and uploaded on the internet (Plaintiff attached
series of online sources/platforms where defendant deformed his character &
maligned his reputation)
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Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi with one of Chief Abiola Ogundokun’s friends, Chief Alani Bankole |
will lead evidence at the trial of this action through living witnesses who
reside within and outside Osun State
to show the far reaching negative effects of the libelous publication, which is
the subject of this action and the monumental damage it has unleashed on the
plaintiff in all its ramifications, including the odium, contempt and ridicule
brought upon him as an astute politician, elder statesman, High Chief,
Philanthropist, Publisher and well respected community leader, and business
executive which cut across state boundaries.
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High Chief Abiola Ogundokun introducing Oluwo to Chief Bola Ajibola when the going was sweet between the two |
with him expressing disappointment over the malicious defamation of the
plaintiff’s reputation by the defendant.
have done all the Defendant claimed he did.
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The Oluwo, Oba Adewale Akanbi spraying one of Chief Ogundokun’s daughters during a wedding bash inside Chief Ogundokun’s house in 2016 |
against the plaintiff and unless restrained, he would carry out his threats.
(Plaintiff provides a translated copy of series of defamatory
interviews/comments/chats where Defendant ridicule and destroyed reputation of
plaintiff).
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The Plaintiff, Chief Abiola Ogundokun, ‘Was the one who annulled MKO Abiola’s June 12 election?’ |
aggravated and exemplary damages as a result of the several insulting and
public comments made against him by the Oluwo
of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi on several online mediums
including YouTube, Whatsapp, Facebook, and Newspapers.
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The Obanla of Iwo Land, High Chief Abiola Ogundokun and Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi when the going was good |
filed his charges against the Oluwo
exactly a year after Oluwo gave him
the Oba
Nla of Iwo land title (The highest title in Iwo land) which is equally
a subject of contest in the new case.
Nla of Iwo land via a letter signed by the Oluwo on January 8, 2017 (Copy attached with court papers).
months after several eminent members of the Iwo
Board of Trustee (IBOT) resigned their appointment over what they termed
‘Overbearing attitude’ of the monarch.
YouTube remarks/interviews/jester
and other actions against his subject, Chief
Abiola Ogundokun were translated & transcribed by Dr. J. A. Ogunwale an Associate Professor of the Department of Linguistic and African Languages, Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife (OAU). The abuses were
dramatically lined out and translated in both English and Yoruba language to reflect the innuendos, mockery, and
drama of the gestures of Oba Adewale
Akanbi while lampooning Abiola
Ogundokun in various instances and available chances.
that such an academic boldness will be brought into a case as meticulous as the
Ogundokun versus Oluwo royal war.
Son”. The letter with Ref: No:
ITC/R/APP/03 was a blatant expression of how the Oluwo treats his elderly subjects, referring to them as his
children or something lower in substance.
Ogundokun…
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The Plaintiff High Chief Abiola Ogundokun, Did he really stole ‘Dundun’ in Modern School according to the defendant? |
to defray the impression created by the Oluwo
of Iwo in several of his online outbursts that:
by his bosom friend, the late Basorun MKO
Abiola. The Oluwo claimed Ogundokun in conjunction with the
military establishment of that era annulled the election.
Abiola’s dream of becoming President of Nigeria
civilian Governor of Osun State
the chances of the Yoruba Nation at several political instances for his own
selfish interest
trusted at any level
incarnate who derives pleasure in sending people to jail.