Ondo AG warns monarchs against turning palaces into courts, detention centres
By Boye Oyeyemi
The Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, has warned traditional rulers against exceeding their powers by turning their palaces into courts or detention centres.
Ajulo said monarchs must operate within the law and resist using customary authority to handle criminal matters or impose personal judgments, stressing that such responsibilities belong to legally recognised institutions.
He spoke on Tuesday at the International Culture and Event Centre, The Dome, Akure, during a three-day workshop for traditional rulers organised by the Ondo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The workshop, themed “Repositioning the Traditional Institution for Harmonious Communal Relationship, Security, Cultural Preservation and Sustainable Development,” focused on strengthening the role of traditional institutions in peacebuilding, security, cultural preservation and community development.
Ajulo explained that traditional rulers were not a fourth arm of government and could not exercise the powers vested in courts, police or other statutory agencies.
He said an Oba should not order the indefinite detention of a person accused of stealing, insulting the palace, owing money, violating a community rule or participating in a dispute.
Similarly, the attorney general urged monarchs to embrace mediation, preserve peace and provide useful intelligence to security agencies rather than resorting to self-help in criminal, land and communal disputes, while cautioning them against intimidating people or forcefully taking over disputed property.
Meanwhile, Ajulo called for regular legal training for traditional rulers and stronger cooperation among palaces, government and security agencies, saying monarchs could contribute to early warning, conflict prevention, cultural preservation and sustainable development without compromising the rule of law.
