Olubadan accuses new monarchs of blackmail

• Threatens legal action
• It is an empty threat, says Balogun

The crisis between Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and the newly-installed monarchs deepened yesterday as the Olubadan threatened legal action against the new Obas for blackmail and denigration of institution he represents.

Apparently referring to the letter “Re: Grievances; our response” of February 14, 2020 signed by Otun Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, which was obtained from the public domain, the first class monarch vowed to clear his name of the damaging claim that he sold a traditional chieftaincy title for as high as N30 million.

Olubadan, who responded through his Personal Assistant/Media and Publicity Director, Mr. Adeola Oloko, stated that the “embattled high chief” should have substantiated his claim by mentioning the name of the chief or chiefs who paid the sum.

Oloko regretted that despite Balogun’s claim to sophisticated education and age, he could not differentiate between free comment and libel.

According to Oloko, “what the high chiefs did not tell the public was that in September 2019 when the high chiefs came to plead with Olubadan that the vacant positions from Otun Balogun down to Jagun on both side be filled, what His Majesty requested from them was the usual N100,000 per step.

“Even when some of the high chiefs could not afford to pay. So, how can the respected monarch ask for N30 million from someone who cannot afford N100,000 only?”

Meanwhile, reacting on behalf of the new Obas, Senator Lekan Balogun said: “How are we blackmailing him? We are not blackmailing anybody. The legal action is an empty threat.”