The Olakulehin Royal Family has officially announced the burial programme for the late 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who passed away at the age of 90 on Monday, July 7, 2025, after a brief illness in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to a statement by the monarch’s first son, Olasunmbo Olakulehin, the late traditional ruler will receive a state burial on Friday, August 8, 2025.
The event, approved by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, will include a church service and interment at the Cathedral of Saint Peters, Aremo, Ibadan, starting at 10 a.m.
Olakulehin said the burial will be preceded by various events initially scheduled to commemorate the late monarch’s 90th birthday and first coronation anniversary, which were rescheduled to align with the 21-day mourning period.
The activities will commence on Sunday, August 3, 2025, with the Olubadan Olakulehin Football Cup semi-final matches at Bishop Philips Academy Stadium, Ibadan, at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
The statement read, “On Monday, August 4, 2025, the Olakulehin Table Tennis Tournament preliminaries will be held at the Indoor Hall of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan at 10 a.m.”
“Tuesday, August 5, 2025, will witness the Olubadan Olakulehin Football Cup third-place face-off at the Olubadan Stadium, Ibadan, at 2 p.m., while the Cup final will be played at 4 p.m.”
“Olakulehin Table Tennis Tournament Finals on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, will round off the earlier rescheduled sporting activities to mark the monarch’s 90th birthday and first coronation anniversary.”
Ahead of the final burial, an interfaith service and lying-in-state will take place at Mapo Hall on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 10 a.m. A Christian wake will follow the same day at the Olubadan Palace, Oke Aremo, Ibadan, by 3 p.m.
The funeral rites will conclude with a family thanksgiving service on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the Cathedral of Saint Peters, Aremo, Ibadan, at 10 a.m.
The family expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, the Olubadan-in-Council, traditional rulers, religious leaders, politicians, corporate representatives, Ibadan groups and associations, ethnic communities, professionals, and the general public for their support, condolence messages, and visits.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
