FILE: Court gavel and Constitution
The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State, on Monday restrained the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, from removing the Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Olaleken Akadiri.
The Osun State Government had earlier declared the stool of Akirun of Ikirun vacant and called on all parties to await the determination of a suit on the stool currently pending before the Court of Appeal.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said the government decision on the stool was contained in six White Papers on various committees that investigated issues raised by the executive orders issued by the governor at the inception of his administration in November 2022.
The court, presided by Justice S.O Nwaka Gbagi, barred the governor and others from taking any step in respect of the Akirun of Ikirun chieftaincy, pending the determination of the appeal before the court.
In a motion on notice filed by his counsel, N.O Oke (SAN), Oba Akadiri drew the attention of the court to a letter written by the Eesa of Ikirun and chairman of the kingmakers of the town, Chief Kareem Adetoyese, stating that he was acting on the directive of the governor to call on the Gboleru Ruling House to present candidates for the stool.
The monarch also drew the court’s attention to the Osun State Government White Paper, which ordered that all issues on the Akirun of Ikirun chieftaincy crisis be put on hold pending the determination of the subsisting appeal at the appellate court.
Counsel for Oba Akadiri further told the court that, notwithstanding the decision of the government contained in the White Paper and the ongoing appeal, the Eesa of Ikirun had written to the Gboleru Ruling House to present candidates to the kingmakers as ordered by the governor.
He urged the court for an order for all parties to maintain the status quo as contained in the White Paper.
Counsel for the various parties to the appeal, including G. A. Adesina for the appellants’ Gboleru Ruling House, and Bamidele Salami from the Office of the Attorney-General of Osun State, agreed that no action be taken pending the determination of the appeal.
Counsel for the kingmakers, Chief Sola Ebiseni, while supporting the motion and the need to maintain the status quo in the interest of justice and peace in the community, informed the court that the appeal was ordinarily adjourned for hearing as all parties had filed their respective briefs, except for the application of some counsel for the substitution of their deceased clients.
In his ruling, the court stated that “it has been brought to the knowledge of this court that despite the government White Paper advising all parties to halt the processing of nomination of the Akirun of Ikirun, learned Silk Counsel to the 15th respondent has informed the court that the fourth respondent has been calling for nomination for the stool.
“This has been confirmed by counsel for the appellant and other respondents. The counsel for the fourth respondent, who is being accused of this action, denied knowledge of the action by his client.
“It is unfortunate that the 4th respondent can go out of the government’s directive in a matter that is pending before this court. It is hereby ordered that parties maintain the status quo and avoid breakdown of peace and order.”
