Island Club: Tussle for power gets messier

BY INNOCENT ANABA & CLIFFORD NDUJIHE
LAGOS — The tussle for power in Nigeria’s premier social club, Island Club, is getting keener and messier following months of bickering and litigation between feuding camps.

Yesterday, the Lagos State government filed a criminal charge against one of the chairmanship aspirants, Prince Ademola Dada, for allegedly making false declaration on oath before a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, to the effect that he attended  Isoyin Grammar School, Isoyin Ijebu in Ogun State.

The accused person’s arraignment could not go ahead yesterday, as the trial judge, Justice Christopher Balogun was said to be attending a seminar organised for newly appointed judges in Lagos State, but the matter has been adjourned till March 8, 2011.

Prince Dada, also the Sooko Obafemi of Ile Ife, in Osun State, according to the information filed in court,  was alleged to have on November 15, 2006 at the High Court premises in the Lagos Judicial Division before a Commissioner for Oaths,  knowingly and falsely deposed to an affidavit headed ‘Affidavit of Confirmation of Attendance.’

The alleged offence is contrary to Section 192 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C. 17 Vol. 2 Laws of Lagos State 2003.

Prince Dada was alleged to have stated on oath that he got admitted into Isoyin Grammar School, Isoyin Ijebu in Ogun State and that one Mr. Odeleye and Mr. Oyenuga were the Principal and Vice Principal respectively.

Dada  was also alleged to have averred that as at the time of his admission into Isoyin Grammar School, he was bearing the name Stephen Dada and that he only spent one term in the school due to lack of financial support.

However, a statement issued by Isoyin Grammar School dated May 15, 2066 entitled: “To Whom It May Concern,” urged him to stop parading himself as a former student of the school.

The letter read: “It has come to the notice of the school authority that the said Mr. Ademola Dada or Dada Ademola was never a student of Isoyin Grammar School, Isoyin and that he did not attend the said school. Henceforth, he Mr Dada Ademola should stop parading himself as a student of Isoyin Grammar School.”

Contacted on the issue yesterday, Prince Ademola Dada said he was out of the country and would speak upon his return. “I am in Accra now. I shall call you on arrival,” he said.

A member of the club told Vanguard yesterday that the suit was part of plans to stop Dada from running for the chairmanship.