By Ola Ajayi

Ibadan—A case challenging the installation of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji was stalled yesterday in Ibadan as the presiding judge, Justice Mukhtar Abimbola of the Oyo State High Court withdrew from the case following petition against him.

Though, the judge said the National Judicial Council to which the petition was sent had absolved him from any wrong doing, he decided to transfer the case in the interest of justice and to clear all doubts.

Seriki line in Ibadan led by Chief Adebayo Oyediji had contested the installation of Olubadan in March 4, this year, claiming that since two high chiefs died in succession, it was the turn of his line to produce the next Olubadan.

His bid to stop the installation of Oba Adetunji failed when the court refused his prayer.

At the court yesterday, litigants in the case and lawyers of the claimants Mr. Abideen Adeniran and Michael Lana representing the Olubadan and the Olubadan-in-Council, had sat in court to continue hearing when the judge jolted them as he excused himself and transferred the case to the administrative block of the court for re-assignment.

The judge said he was very shocked at the very strong language used in the petition against him, noting that he had since been invited by the NJC.

Describing the petition as a venomous one, he said, he filed his reply without harbouring any bias in the matter.

After he said this, the lead counsel to claimant, Mr. Abideen Adeniran, distanced himself from the said petition.

Chief Oyediji and some other chiefs of the Seriki Line had filed the suit asking the court to restrain the Olubadan-in-Council and Governor Ajimobi from going ahead with the installation.

The petition was said to have been forwarded to the NJC when the Judge refused to grant an order to stall the installation, describing the action as biased and prejudiced.