Ondo govt releases White Paper on Justice Ajama’s Judicial Commission of Inquiry

 NEWS UPDATE: CHIEFTANCY MATTERS: ONDO STATE GOVERNMENT RELEASES WHITE PAPER ON THE HON JUSTICE C.E.T. AJAMA JUDICIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON CHIEFTAINCY MATTERS.

On the 30th day of January, 2015, the then Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko CON, inaugurated Hon. Justice Ajama (rtd) Judicial Commission of Inquiry into deserving cases of Recognition, Adjustment, upgrading and elevation of Chieftaincy Stools in Ondo State. However, the previous administration of Dr Olusegun Mimiko could not implement the Commission’s report before the end of its tenure on 23rd of February, 2017. Following several disputes and agitations emanating as a result of the Chieftaincy conflicts in the state, the State Executive Council under the able leadership of the Governor of the State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN at its meeting held on Wednesday 12th January 2022 constituted a six-man committee to review the recommendations of the Justice C.E.T. Ajama Commission of Inquiry on Chieftaincy Matters in Ondo State and prepare the Government White Paper on the report. The Committee was led by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa. Other members of the committee include, Chief Olugbenga Ale, (Chief of Staff), Sir Charles Titiloye, (Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice), Deaconess Lola Fagbemi, (Commissioner for Commerce Co-operative and Industry), Asiwaju Gboyega Adefarati, (Commissioner for Local Govt. & Chieftaincy Affairs as he then was) Mr. Segun Odusanya, (Permanent Secretary, Min. of Local Govt. & Chieftaincy Affairs, Secretary of the committee). On the 24th of August, 2022, the State Executive Council received the report of the Committee and directed that its decisions on the recommendation should be published in Government WHITE PAPER.Consequently, Government hereby RELEASES the White Paper on the Hon. Justice Ajama Commission of Inquiry on Chieftaincy Matters in Ondo State. A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE CONTENT OF THE WHITE PAPERS IS AS FOLLOWS:The White Paper is divided into Three (3) Parts namely 1. PART I – Disputed Chieftaincy declarations in Ondo State. The Government White Paper under this Part covered 51 disputed chieftaincy stools in various communities making up the 18 Local Government of Ondo State. The content of this section of the White paper is voluminous and run into many pages. The public can get the full details from the just released WHITE PAPER. 2. PART II – Recognition and creation of Minor Chieftaincies Under Part 1 Of Chiefs’ Law The following chieftaincies stools have been created and recognized byGovernment under Part 1 of the Chiefs’ Law. 1. Eleegun of Eegun2. Asinigbo of Isinigbo3. Oniresi of Osi4. Olumafon of Imafon5. Olu of Alayere6. Olu of Eleyewo7. Olu of Ilu-Abo8. Olu of Abo-Asakin9. Obalogun of Igoba10. Ojogbariaka of Ilado11. Elekun of Ilekun12. Iralepo of Isinkan13. Osolo of Isolo14. Olujoka of Ijoka15. Ado of Adofure16. Olu of Ijigba17. Ogidi of Ogidigba18. Iginabou of Ajapa19. Amananawei of Upke20. Amananawei Of Biagbini21. Torhunanawei of Olomu-Torhu22. Amananawei of Agadagba-Obon23. Amananawei of Bolowou24. Apetokun of Ipoba25. Alajowa of Ajowa26. Elegbeda of Egbeda27. Onikoore of Onishere Ofosu28. Akorede of Abababubu29. Baale of Owode-Owena30. Aje of Ajebamidele31. Elejigbo of Ejigbo32. Olu of Owena-Ibutitan33. Olu of Ipote34. Orimadegun of Eyingun35. Olupote of Lota36. Olusama of Usama37. Akemo of Bamikemo38. Oloja Mobolorunduro Mile 4939. Petu of Osooro40. Odofin of Iju-Oke41. Afijalura of Ura-Odoli, Ilutitun42. Lurowa of Irowa, Lurowa43. Erekiti-Luwoye44. Oloja of Ugbe Ayeka45. Oloja of Oke-Yegengha46. Oloja of Odole47. Oloja of Ugboran48. Oloja of Araromi49. Oloja of Bolorunduro50. Kokunma of Ilale-Oko, Idashen Owo51. Olose of Ose-Owo52. Ajelu of Igbe53. Monehin of Obinehin54. Elereke of Ereke55. Araromi Seaside56. Osowa of Ugboroko57. Arapanata of Itebu-Kunmi58. Jinrinwo59. Yasere of Ilepete60. Gbogunron of Ugbo (Alagbon)61. Idigbengben62. Olurokun of Irokun63. Government accepts the recommendation of the Commission for the recognition of High Chiefs of Akure Kingdom, High Chiefs of Arogbo-ijaw Kingdom under Part 1 subject to the amendment of Chiefs law to create the class of Chiefs known as High Chiefs. The above newly recognized Obas are on Grade C and instrument of office will soon be presented to them by the Governor. 3. Part III – Upgrading And Elevation Of Existing Chieftaincy StoolUPGRADING OF GRADE C OBASNAME THE NEW GRADE1. Owa-Ale of Iyo-mefa, Ikare – A2. Ajana of Afa Oke-Agbe – – A3. Olukun of Ikun – – – B4. Gbiri of Epinmi – – – B5. Olupesi of Ipesi – – – B6. Olufira of Ifira – – – B7. Olugbe of Ugbe – – – B8. Olojoda of Oda – – – B9. Asarun of Isarun – – – B10. Adapogun of Ipogun – – B11. Ekiri of Ero – – – – B12. Olubule of Ibulesoro – – B13. Olura of Igbinsin Oloto – – B14. Obagberume of Igbodigo – – B15. Laragunsin of Iyansan – – B16. Olughogho of Iju-Osun – – B17. Olukaro of Ikaro – – – B18. Odibiado of Ijagba – – – B19. Olumoru of Imoru – – – A20. Onimeri of Imeri – – – B21. Alafo of Afo – – – – B22. Onidogun of Idogun – – B23. Gbaluwe of Igbootu – – B24. Niyon of Kiribo – – remain in C25. Olu of Igbobini – – – B26. Odogun of Igbekebo – – B27. Maporure of Agerige . – – A28. Olu of Igbokoda – – – B29. Ojomo of Ijebu-Owo. – – A30. Oloba of Uso – – – remain in C31. Elemure of Emure-Ile – – A32. Alale of Idasen – – – B33. Oniyere of Iyere – – – B34. Olupenmen of Ipenmen – – B35. Asuada of Isuada – – – B36. Awosunye of Atosin – – – B37. Aladeokun of Alade – – B38. Alara of Igunsin – – – B39. Asafunrin of Igbado – – – B40. Yangede of Epe – – – B41. Akogbe of Ajue – – – B42. Olore of Ore – – – – B UPGRADING OF GRADE B OBAS1. Alale of Akungba – – – A2. Olusupare of Supare – remain in B3. Oloba of Oba-Akoko – remain in B4. Olupe of Ipe – – remain in B5. Okiti of Iju – – – – A6. Ogbolu of Itaogbolu – – – A7. Oloba of Oba-Ile – – – A8. Lumure of Ayeka – – remain in B9. Orungberuwa of Erinje – – A10. Lapoki-Halu of Ode-Aye – – A11. Ahaba of Ajagba – – – A12. Larogbo of Akotogbo – – A13. Odogbo of Omiland – – remain in B14. Olujare of Ijare – – – A15. Alara of Ilaramokin – – – A16. Olowa of Igbara-Oke. – – A17. Olute of Ute – – – – A18. Ojima of Okeluse – – remain in B19. Olupele of Ipele . – – – A20. Orunja of Odigbo – – – A21. Oluoke of Okeigbo – – – A22. Olikan of Etikan – – – A Paramountcy of Traditional Rulers.Government is in receipt of the recommendation of the Commission on Paramountcy of some Traditional rulers in the state. Government noted that paramountcy is not part of the Chiefs’ Law of Ondo State. Consequently, Government has directed the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to set machinery in motion for the amendment of the Chiefs Law of Ondo State in order to accommodate this recommendation. Conclusion.This Government met the Justice C. E. T. Ajama report unattended to on assumption of office. A committee of the State Executive Council was set up to review the report and make recommendations. The Committee didn’t present its report until in February 2022 when a new Committee was set up. The report of the Committee eventually made it possible for the Five years old Justice Ajama report to be considered and acted upon by the State Executive Council. For full details of the approval of Government, Published Certified True Copy of the White Paper can be obtained from Ondo State Law Commission, Oda Road, Akure and the Library Department of Ondo State Ministry of Justice, Alagbaka, Akure as from Thursday 15th of September, 2022. Government is hopeful that this exhaustive consideration and review of Chieftaincy Matters in the State will bring peace, unity and progress to our various communities. Government hereby assure the Public that the review of Chieftaincy matters will be a continuous exercise and requests or issues that have not been looked into in this White paper will be considered in the future. God bless Ondo State of Nigeria. Thanks. Signed.Sir Charles Titiloye ksm.Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ondo State.