Due to an order by an Osun State High Court in Osogbo, the state capital, the executive governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke cannot give Staff of Office to the new Aree of Iree town.
The restraining order was issued on Friday, May 3, when Oba Raphael Oluponle filed a petition ex parte in action HOS/20/2024 via his lawyer, Abdulrahaman Okunade. He requested a temporary injunction barring Adeleke from installing Oyelakin as Aree until the main action is heard and determined.
Prince Muritala Oyelakin, State Attorney-General, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and others are defendants.
Okunade, representing the applicant, asked the court to prevent the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants from granting Oyelakin, the 9th defendant, a certificate, instrument, and/or staff of office as Aree of Iree or installing him pending the case’s final determination.
In court, respondents were unrepresented.
Following the presentation of the application, the presiding judge, Justice M. Awe, remarked, “After reviewing the applicant’s statement along with the attached evidence and the arguments presented by legal counsel, I am convinced that this application should be granted.
“There is an immediate need to maintain the current state of affairs pending the hearing of the motion for an interlocutory injunction filed on the same matter.”
“Therefore, the applicant’s request is granted as prayed.”
Justice Awe further stated, “Specifically, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respondents are ordered to refrain from granting (Prince Muritala Oyelakin) a certificate, instrument, and/or Staff of Office as the Aree of Iree or taking any further actions in his formal installation.”
The petitioner, Oba Raphael Oluponle, was appointed and installed as Aree by the former Osun governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, approaching the conclusion of his term in November 2022.
Upon gaining office, Oyetola’s successor, Adeleke, annulled the appointments of all traditional rulers chosen by Oyetola.
He particularly directed the Aree of Iree, Oba Oluponle; the Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Olalekan Akadiri, and the Owa of Igbajo, Oba Adegboyega Famoodun, to relinquish their seats pending an inquiry into the selection process.
In January 2024, the state government produced White Papers on the investigation involving the appointment of the three traditional rulers and urged for new selection procedures to fill the Aree and Owa of Igbajo seats.
The Akinrun seat was ruled vacant, and all parties were urged to await the result of a pending appeal in Akure, Ondo State.
Following the revised selection procedures authorized by the state government, Oyelakin was selected as the new Aree, while Oba Ademola Makinde was nominated as the new Owa of Igbajo.