The Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, has warned traditional rulers against turning their palaces into courts or detention centres.
Ajulo gave the warning on Wednesday in Akure at a three-day workshop organised for traditional rulers by the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The workshop was themed: “Repositioning the Traditional Institution for Harmonious Communal Relationship, Security, Cultural Preservation and Sustainable Development.”
He charged traditional rulers to exercise their authority within the confines of the constitution and the law, noting that they operated within a constitutional democracy and must understand the distinction between customary authority and powers reserved for courts, police and other statutory institutions.
Ajulo said traditional rulers should see themselves primarily as custodians of history and culture, symbols of communal identity, peace-builders, mediators and community mobilisers, rather than alternative courts or government institutions.
He warned them against turning their palaces into detention centres or criminal courts, stressing that alleged criminal conduct must be handled by legally authorised law-enforcement institutions.
“An Oba should not order the indefinite detention of a person because that person is accused of stealing, insulting the palace, owing money, violating a community rule or participating in a dispute,” he said.
Ajulo urged traditional rulers to identify criminal conduct, preserve peace, provide information and cooperate with appropriate authorities instead of investigating, detaining or punishing suspects themselves.
He also emphasised fair hearing in traditional administration and encouraged traditional institutions to embrace mediation and customary arbitration where appropriate, provided such processes remained voluntary and distinct from judicial adjudication.
Ajulo cautioned traditional rulers against using customary authority as a licence for self-help, particularly in cases involving alleged land grabbing, intimidation, forceful entry or illegal occupation.
He advised them to preserve peace and refer such matters to appropriate statutory authorities, including the Anti-Land Grabbing Task Force where applicable.
Ajulo also urged traditional rulers to strengthen their role in the state’s security architecture by providing credible community intelligence to government and security agencies.
