By Dayo Johnson
THE embattled Deji of Akure, Oba Oluwadare Adepoju, has been dragged before an Akure High Court by his wife, Olori Bolanle, to seek redress over the defence put up by the Deji.

Olori Bolanle prayed the court to declare that her two sons— Adegboyega and Adesimbo — are biological sons of Adesina and that N100 million damages should be awarded to her for defaming her character through the claim of the monarch that the paternity of the boys was doubtful.

Meantime, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State yesterday said he would not succumb to any blackmail from any quarters as to what would be the fate of Oba Adepoju who engaged in street fight with his wife last week.

Mimiko pointed out that his administration “is committed to the rule of law and the principles of separation of powers as it relates to the controversy over the stool of Deji of Akureland particularly its present occupant, Oba Adesina Adepoju.”

A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ranti Akerele, said the “Mimiko government has been guided all along by its firm belief  in the sanctity of the laws of the land and their sacred provisions.

“When the Oba had a problem with his chiefs a while ago, the governor intervened not because it had any vested interest but because the provisions of the law were not adhered to.

“We had no alternative than to halt the flawed process then as it was already being misinterpreted in other communities as lack of spine and credibility to avert a breakdown of order.

“In the present circumstance, the government cannot without due recourse to laid down procedure visit any punitive action on the controversial Oba.Nevertheless, government on the receipt of a notice detailing infractions on the provisions of the law by the Oba, has set in motion the process of investigating, and deciding on what to do to an errant Oba.”

He pointed out that “A query was issued by the requisite authority last week and the Oba has until Wednesday to respond. Until then, the government, as a responsible one, committed to democratic norms, will only expect the understanding of all parties and their full cooperation.

“It will be an abuse of all known and accepted norms to reduce the fundamental issues involved in the case of the Oba and his wife to trials on the pages of newspapers. They touch on the deep values that we hold dear as a people and so must be handled with a clear focus of getting justice: justice to the victim, justice to the abused and justice to the society.”

Akerele added that “in all that it will do on the issue, government will not submit to blackmail or hysteria of any kind but will be guided by the strict provisions of the laws of our land”.