Justice M.O Adegbola has ordered the return of the case file instituted by Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja against Olubadan of Ibadan and the 11 elevated high chiefs who were newly coronated, back to the chief justice for reassignment.
Adegbola who presides over Ibadan High Court sitting at Court 4 Ring-road, declared this on Wednesday when the case came up for hearing.
He said he was close to the parties in the case, explaining that “my closeness to the claimant; second and fourth defendants would impugn on my credibility and that of the judiciary.”
He added that “the best in the circumstance is to step down in handing of the matter.”
He stated specifically that the court should be aware of his closeness to the claimant, Ladoja, 2nd and 4th defendants. And in the interest of justice, “I have no option than to ask another judge to adjudicate on the matter”, he added.
Meanwhile, the court has ordered the service of the court process through substituted means be served on some of the defendants in the case.
This was after the claimant lawyer, M. O. Folorunso told the court that all attempt to serve the defendants in respective home addresses failed as the defendants were not available to receive the court service.
Reacting, the trial judge order that the substituted service be employed through pasting the originating process in the palace of Olubadan of Ibadan land at Alarere area, Ibadan.
