From John Dike, Osogbo

A US-based university don, Professor Adekunle Oloki, has urged the Ataoja-in-Council, Osun state House of Assembly, and Osun state Government to intervene in the paternity issues of his daughter currently in the custody of Ataoja of Osogboland.

Oloki had dragged his former wife, now Olori Kafayat Adedoyin Adetunji who is married to the Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, before an Erin-Osun Customary Court.

He alleged that his ex-wife, Kafayat, refused to allow him access to their daughter since she took her to the palace.

When the case was called for hearing on Wednesday, the counsel to the defendant, S.B. Ajibade told the court that he cannot continue with the hearing of the case on security grounds.

According to the counsel: “My Lord, I urge this honorable court to move this case to the state capital for security reasons, as you can see the plaintiff stormed the court with security personnel and pressmen and for this reason, I wouldn’t want to continue with the hearing.

“We are not safe and we cannot go on again except if only the two parties be allowed to stay in court while the press and security personnel stay away.

“We are in a state of apprehension. I pray the court to consider my application.”

The plantiff’s counsel, Asafa Olare, who did not object the application of the defence counsel, said she believes in whatever the court says.

The president of the court, K.B Adeyinka, having heard from both parties said it is not in his discretion to transfer the case to Osogbo, adding that he will contact the President of the Osun state Customary Court and follow whatever he says.

He thereafter adjourned the case till June 21, 2023 for hearing.

Briefing the court after the ruling, Prof Oloki lamented that the Ataoja’s wife has denied him access to his daughter for the past eight years.

He said he brought the security personnel to court because of his own safety, adding that the president of the court ought to have ignored the application of the defense counsel based on the fact that he (Oloki) is not a resident of Nigeria.

He said: “For almost eight years, Olori has successfully denied me access to my daughter. I have called a lot of people’s attention to it asking them to prevail on her. I have equally gone to the palace with elders, but the Ataoja of Osogbo being the daddy of Osogbo has deliberately enabled his wife by denying me access to my daughter and this has inflicted mental pain, agony, emotional imbalance on me over the years.

“I brought them to court to seek redress and I flew in from the United States just couple of days ago, so that the hearing can move on.

“The judge knows fully well that I don’t stay in Nigeria, and I may not be in court in the next hearing because of this.

“I beg the Ataoja-in-Council to intervene in this matter, I also urge the Osun state House of Assembly and the state government to come to my aid.”