OndThe Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Olukayode Ajulo, has urged traditional rulers to operate within the limits of the law and avoid assuming powers reserved for courts and law-enforcement agencies.

Ajulo spoke in Akure on Wednesday at a three-day workshop organised by the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for traditional rulers. The workshop was themed, “Repositioning the Traditional Institution for Harmonious Communal Relationship, Security, Cultural Preservation and Sustainable Development.”

The commissioner said the traditional institution had an important role to play in maintaining peace and promoting community development, but cautioned that customary authority must not be confused with statutory powers.

According to him, traditional rulers function within a constitutional democracy and should regard themselves as custodians of culture and history, community leaders, mediators, peace-builders and mobilisers rather than as an alternative arm of government.

Ajulo noted that the Constitution did not create the traditional institution as a “fourth arm of government”, although it recognises the contribution traditional institutions can make to local governance and community development.

He particularly warned against the practice of using traditional palaces as detention facilities or makeshift courts, stressing that criminal matters should be handled by institutions legally empowered to do so.

“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 advised traditional rulers to report suspected criminal activities, assist security agencies with information and work with the authorities rather than attempting to investigate, detain or punish suspects themselves.

The commissioner also called for fairness in the handling of community disputes, saying traditional rulers should be willing to hear all sides before reaching conclusions.

He encouraged the use of mediation and customary arbitration in suitable cases, provided such processes remained voluntary and were not presented as substitutes for formal judicial proceedings.

Ajulo further cautioned against using customary authority to settle land disputes through force, particularly allegations involving land grabbing, intimidation, unlawful entry and illegal occupation.

He urged traditional rulers to preserve peace in such circumstances and refer cases to the appropriate government agencies, including the Anti-Land Grabbing Task Force where necessary.

The commissioner also called on traditional institutions to become stronger partners in the state’s security efforts by supplying reliable community intelligence to the government and security agencies.