Ondo Govt: No Law Backing Traditional Rulers To Extend Authority Beyond Domain

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Government has declared that no traditional ruler in the State has the right to paramountcy claim, as it is not part of the Chief’s Law of Ondo State.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Titiloye, said this at a press conference in Akure on Monday, where he announced the release of the White Paper on the Justice C.E.T. Ajama (rtd) Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Chieftaincy Matters.

Titiloye disclosed that the immediate past administration under Dr. Olusegun Mimiko instituted the commission on January 30, 2015 to attend to recognition, adjustment, upgrading and elevation of chieftaincy stools in the state.

According to him, the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration set up a six-man committee at the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held on January 12, 2022 to review the recommendations made by Justice Ajama Commission.

He noted that the new committee set up by the present administration reviewed it and prepared the Government White Paper on the report, settling 51 disputed chieftaincy stools across the 18 local government areas of the state.

The Attorney General, who disclosed that the new report was received on August 24, 2022, said the SEC directed that its decisions on the recommendation should be published in Government White Paper.

 “Government is in receipt of the recommendation of the commission on paramountcy of some traditional rules in the state.

“Government notes that paramountcy is not part of the Chief’s 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.”