Court fixes December 9 to rule on late Premier of Western Region’s case

Justice Aderonke Aderemi of the High Court , Ibadan, has fixed December 9, 2016 for rulling on two applications brought before  by the two surviving children of the late Premier of Western region, Samuel Ladoke Akintola, in suit number 1/451/13.
‎A sitting Judge in the court, Justice Ladiran Akintola in the suit is challenging the two surviving children, Bimbo Akintola and Abayomi Akintola, that as a biological son of the former Premier of the defunct Western Region, the Late Samuel Ladoke Akintola, he (Justice Ladiran Akintola), deserves shares and remittance of the estate of their father.

In his argument, Counsel to the defendants, Olaseni Oyefeso made two fresh applications before Justice Aderemi, a leave of court to re-call the witnesses who testified in favour of the claimant, Justice Akintola and another to disqualify herself, citing bias in her handling the case.

On the other hand, Counsel to Justice Akintola, Biodun, Abdul-Rahman, objected to the application, citing various authorities in defence of his claim.

However, the Principal state counsel led by Jumoke Abu-Okolo did not.

In an interview with newsmen, counsel to  Bimbo and Abayomi Akintola, Oyefeso, on behalf of his clients alleged that Justice Aderemi is in secret discussion with the claimant, having being colleagues in the services of the Oyo State High Court.

He said: “This case is about a sitting Judge, Honourable Justice Ladiran Akintola who claimed to be a biological child of the late politician and Premier of the Western region, late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola. So, the two surviving children of the late politician,  Bimbola Akintola and Abayomi Akintola were sued as defendants, asking for his shares of the vast estate of late Akintola.

“That is the bone of contention. He is saying that as the biological son, they have to render account and that his entitlement be paid in past remittances and those that should have come to him and future remittances and the shares of the estate. Basically where we are now is that we’re asking the Judge to disqualify herself with the conduct of the case on the ground of bias.

“I brought an application on behalf of our client- Akintola. The family is alleging that because the claimant is a Judge of the same court, they are working in contact against them. It is an allegation which I am not part of, that is the position of my clients which I am ventilating on their behalf.

“They said the Judge is in a surreptitious communication with the claimant who is her colleague and that there is absolute bias in the case. Five witnesses testified in support of the claims of the claimant.

“They (Bimbo and Abayomi Akintola) had already written to the Chief Judge of the state to transfer the case file on the ground of bias, so the Judge continues in the case and discharge those witnesses without being cross examined by their counsel. Now, we have come back to recall these witnesses for cross examination, she refused the examination, we came back again to seek leave to recall these witnesses and the application asking her to disqualify herself and remit the case file back to the

Chief Judge of Oyo state for reassignment to another Judge of the court.

“In summary, our application is one; the leave of court to re call the witnesses who testified in favour of the claimant – Justice Ladiran Akintola. Secondly, to ask the Judge to disqualify herself and remit the case file to the CJ of Oyo State for assignment to another Judge.”

Justice Aderemi, having listened to the two counsels, adjourned ruling on the two applications to December 9, 2016.