By Stephen Simon
The Ondo State Government has cautioned traditional rulers against exceeding their customary powers by using their palaces as makeshift courts or detention centres.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Olukayode Ajulo, issued the warning on Wednesday in Akure during a three-day capacity-building workshop organised for traditional rulers by the 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 within the framework of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
Ajulo urged monarchs to exercise their authority in line with the Constitution and other applicable laws, stressing that traditional institutions have important customary responsibilities but do not possess the powers assigned to courts, the police and other statutory agencies.
He noted that although the Constitution recognises the relevance of traditional institutions to local governance, peace-building and community development, they do not constitute a separate “fourth arm of government.”
According to him, traditional rulers should concentrate on their roles as custodians of culture and history, community leaders, mediators, peace-builders and mobilisers.
The commissioner specifically warned monarchs against detaining suspects or conducting criminal proceedings within their palaces, insisting that criminal allegations must be handled by legally authorised 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 advised monarchs who receive reports of criminal activities to help maintain peace, preserve useful information and pass credible intelligence to the relevant security agencies rather than taking the law into their own hands.
He also encouraged traditional rulers to ensure fairness when handling customary disputes, stressing that allowing all parties to present their cases would not diminish the authority or dignity of the monarch.
While supporting mediation and customary arbitration where appropriate, the Attorney General said such processes must be voluntary and clearly distinguished from formal judicial proceedings.
He further warned against invoking customary authority to justify self-help in disputes involving land grabbing, intimidation, unlawful entry or alleged illegal occupation.
Instead, he urged traditional institutions to maintain peace and refer such matters to appropriate government agencies, including the Anti-Land Grabbing Task Force where necessary.
Ajulo also called on monarchs to become more actively involved in the state’s security architecture by providing reliable community intelligence to government and security agencies.
He said stronger cooperation between traditional institutions and statutory authorities would improve community security while ensuring that customary powers are exercised within the limits of the law.
