BY GBENGA OLARINOYE, Osogbo
Justice Yinka Aderibigbe of an Osogbo High Court, yesterday, excused himself from the Ataoja of Osogbo case before him and transferred it to the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olaniyi Ojo for relocation to another judge.

Justice Aderibigbe explained that he was transferring the case to the chief Judge to save his name and character, as according to him, his character was being maligned by the Counsel to the kingmakers.

The court, last month, removed Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun Larooye 11 as the Ataoja of Osogbo while ruling in the suit and nullified the nomination, selection, appointment and installation of the monarch.

When the case came up yesterday, Justice Aderibigbe said he could not continue with the case because the counsel to the kingmakers Mr. Gbadebo Adesina brought an application to disqualify him from presiding over the case.

Justice Aderibigbe said the counsel alleged that his ruling nullifying the nomination, selection, appointment and installation of Olanipekun from the throne leaked before it was delivered in the court.

The judge thereafter withdrew and transferred the case to the chief Judge of the state.

The plaintiffs, Alhaji Nasiru Oyeniyi, head of Gbaemu compound in Osogbo and Pa Claudious Fayoyiwa, head of Olu-Awooba compound on behalf of Sogbo ruling House filed the suit against, Osun State Government, the Osogbo kingmakers and Oba Olanipekun.

Before he withdrew from the case, Justice Aderibigbe noted that he had no special interest in the case and that he had been very transparent and fair to all the parties in the suit.

The Judge expressed disappointment that the counsel to the kingmaker brought an application to the court to urge him to disqualify himself from further hearing of the suit, adding that “it is quite unfortunate for the counsel to the kingmakers to have come up with an application seeking that I should disqualify myself from handling this case on the excuse that the previous ruling that I delivered raked before it was read in this court which is not true.

“Rather than maligning my reputation, counsel should know that he has the right to appeal against my judgment if not satisfied. I wish to state here clearly that I have no special interest in any of the parties in the matter and I have been doing the right thing to the best of my ability.

“I am worried that lawyer could go to extreme extent simply because they want to impress their clients. They put a lot of pressure on me and because I did not succumb to such pressure which involved very powerful people, they think that maligning my character is the way out.

“I want to remind them that they will die one day and they will face their creators to explain why they have to damage another man’s character to succeed in life”.

Justice Aderibigbe while charging the counsel to the Defendant to be mindful of the future, commended the counsels to the plaintiff, Barrister Oluwaseun Dada and state counsel Abiodun Badiora for expressing confidence in him.