Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
Consequently, Publisher of the online newspaper, Omoyele Sowore, initiated a suit to quash the judgment on the premise that he was not served before judgment was awarded against him.
Justice Oyinloye, in his short ruling, said Sahara Reporters’ motion was not matured for hearing, adding that the judgment creditor was still within time to respond to same.
Consequently, he adjourned the matter to September 14.
Speaking with journalists after the ruling, the lead counsel to the Senate President, Paul Erokoro (SAN), said the process filed by counsel to Sahara Reporters was not matured for his response, noting that the judge ruled that they were within time to file a response. He also said the online media posed a danger to the nation’s democracy and administration of justice and integrity of court and thus should be checked for its constant, needless attack against people and institutions.
Also speaking, the Sahara Reporter’s lead counsel, Stanley Ihmaruo, said they were not served with originating process, among other records, of proceedings before the judgment.
His words: “We want the court to set aside the entire proceedings. We filed other papers restraining the other party in the proceedings. When the matter came up today (yesterday), the judgment creditors respondents could not respond to our papers for the hearing of our applications.”
Vanguard
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