The Ondo State Government has cautioned traditional rulers against using their palaces as courts or detention centres, stressing that their authority must be exercised within the limits of the law.
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, gave the warning on Wednesday during a three-day workshop for traditional rulers in Akure.
The workshop was held under the theme, “Repositioning the Traditional Institution for Harmonious Communal Relationship, Security, Cultural Preservation and Sustainable Development.”
Ajulo said monarchs lacked the legal authority to detain or punish individuals accused of criminal offences or involved in disputes, urging them to refer such matters to the appropriate government institutions.
He advised traditional rulers to focus on mediation, peace-building and community mobilisation while allowing security agencies and courts to handle criminal and judicial matters.
The commissioner also warned against intimidation, forceful entry and other forms of self-help in land disputes, urging monarchs to seek lawful means of resolving conflicts.
“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.
He called on traditional rulers to provide security agencies with credible information on threats such as kidnapping, cultism, communal clashes, illegal mining and farmer-herder conflicts.
Ajulo described traditional institutions as important partners in maintaining peace and promoting development, but stressed that their roles must remain within the boundaries of the Constitution and existing laws.
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