The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi has withdrawn his motion on Notice for leave to appeal as an interested party against the ruling of Federal High Court in Ibadan.
A Federal High Court Sitting in Ibadan had on Dec. 15, 2014, issued an order of mandamus compelling the Inspector General of Police to investigate Oba Adeyemi for alleged criminalities, including murder, bomb planting, unlawful possession of arms and so on.
The application for mandamus with the suit No: FHC/IB/CS/54/2014 was filed at the Federal High court, Ibadan, by the applicants’ counsel, Biodun Abdur-Raheem on July 16, 2014 on behalf of Chief Jacob Oluokun and Chief Suleiman Ajiboye Ishola.
Following the ruling by Justice N. Ayo-Emmanuel, Oba Adeyemi through his counsel, Adebayo Adegbite filed a motion on notice for leave to appeal as an interested party on Dec. 19, 2014.
In the Court Order made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Monday, the Court stated “After hearing Adebayo Adegbite Esq, Counsel for the party interested/Applicant who moved in terms of motion papers who did urge the court to grant the application.
“Abiodun Abduraheem, counsel for the Judgment Creditor/Respondent, who did not oppose the application but urged the Court to dismiss the application with the cost of N100, 000 under Order 25(2) Rule 1 of the Federal High Court Rules.
“It is hereby ordered as follows: that the interested party in this suit hereby wholly withdraws his Motion on Notice for leave to appeal as an interested party dated Dec. 19, 2014 against the ruling of this Honourable Court delivered in the suit on 15th Dec. 2014
“That the Motion on Notice dated the 19th day of Dec, 2014 is hereby struck out upon the application of the Interested party/Applicant’s counsel. That in the interest of peace, parties should bear their cost.
The Court Order was signed by A. A. Martins –Oni, An Assistant Registrar of the Federal High Court, Ibadan.
Speaking on the implication of the withdrawal, Abduraheem, counsel to the petitioners, said the coast is now clear for the IG-P to carry out the Order of the Court on Dec. 15, 2014 asking the Police to investigate the alleged criminal activities of Oba Adeyemi.
It would be recalled that after the police declined actions on the petition and judgment of the Court, the petitioners took the matter to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague, on Sept. 9, 2015.
The ICC through a letter with reference number OTP-CR-317/15 confirmed on Feb. 2, that it has begun investigation into the alleged criminal activities filed against Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi by some concerned indigenes of Oyo town.
The ICC letter was signed by M.P. Dillon, Head of the Information and Evidence Unit, Office of the Prosecutor.
“The Office is analyzing the situation identified in your communication, with the assistance of other related communications and other available information.
“Analysis will be carried out as expeditiously as possible, but please be aware that meaningful analysis of these factors can take some time.
“As soon as a decision is taken on whether there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation, we will advise you promptly and we will provide reasons for the decision’’, ICC stated in its response.
The petition entitled: “Unprecedented criminality, flagrant human rights violations, bomb planting, gun running and unresolved assassinations in Oyo town, Oyo state” was sent to ICC since Sept. 9, 2015.
A similar petition was sent to President Muhammadu Buhari in January asking him to compel the Police authorities to execute a court judgment ordering the investigation of Alaafin of Oyo.
The petitioners noted with concern that 13 months after the court gave its order, the Nigerian Police are yet to comply, thus raising suspicion that Oba Adeyemi is being helped to escape investigation.
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