Remo towns practise same native laws, says witness

Chief Lamidi Olaitan Adesanya, the Apena of Ofin, Sagamu has told an Ogun State High Court in Sagamu that the 33 towns that made up Remo land practice the same native laws and customs, especially for the selection of a king.

Adesanya told the court at the resumed hearing of the suit filed by Prince Adetayo Odunsi, challenging the nomination of Albert Mayungbe to the stool of Odemo of Isara-Remo by the king makers, that the 33 towns aside from having same native laws and customs also “do things in common as one Remo land”.

Adesanya was under cross-examination by counsel to the first, sixth to tenth and 14th defendants, Dr. Victor Odunaiya, before Justice A.A. Babasola.

He also disagreed with the contention of the defence that some of the 33 towns that made up Remo land, including Batoro, Ogere, Ilara, Ikenne, operate different native laws and customs.

Apart from Mayungbe, other defendants in the suit are Chief Wasiu Ekundayo; Secretary, Remo North Local Government; Oliwo of Isara, Chief Ajibowu Ogunfowodu; Apena of Isara, Chief Jimoh Soyombo; Chief Ladipo Ogunyemi; Ogbeni Odi of Isara, Chief Olajubu Osibote; Ekeji Asipa Odi, Chief Tunde Kalejaiye; Asipa Odi of Isara, Chief Owuye Logba as second to ninth defendants respectively.

Others are Ekeji Asipa Odi of Isara, Chief Efuwape Sotikare; Olori Emo of Isara, Chief Bashiru Awoniyi; Ekeji Olori Emo of Isara, Chief Korede Ogunwole; Asipa Emo of Isara, Chief Nosiru Sodipe; Ekeji Asipa Emo, Chief Adewole Sopitan; Governor of Ogun State; Executive Council of Ogun State; the State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Local Government and the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice
as 10th to 18th defendants respectively.

In his statement of claims, the claimant, Prince Odunsi, said he is a direct descendant of the late king Oyemade Mayungbe and progenitor of Erinsiba Ayoledoye Ruling House and averred that he is the one lawfully entitled to the stool of Odemo of Isara.

But the first defendant, Albert Mayungbe, had insisted on being a bonafide member and descendant of the Erinsiba Ayoledoye Ruling House.

The witness, while being led in evidence earlier by counsel to the claimant, Mr. Olumuyiwa Obanewa, had told the court that he adopted in total, the content of a statement he made on oath on June 23, 2016 as his evidence in the matter.

Obanewa also reminded the court that he had filed an application, which then sought to replace the deceased 2nd defendant with another person.

The clarification was made following the submission of the defence counsel that he was yet to be briefed by the new 2nd defendant.

Adesanya further told the court that he had served three Akarigbo of Remo in his capacity as Apena of Ofin, Sagamu since his installation in 1982 and that he is very conversant with the native laws and customs of Remo land. The matter is adjourned to March 28.