Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, one of the aspirants for the Alaafin of Oyo stool, has filed a case in the Oyo State High Court, disputing Prince Akeem Owoade’s designation as the new Alaafin.
The lawsuit, filed on February 12, seeks to overturn Owoade’s appointment, claiming that it breaches the Chiefs Law of Oyo State, 2000, and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961.
Gbadegesin is also seeking an injunction to prohibit Owoade from ascending the throne or carrying out any regal obligations.
Gbadegesin’s complaint names Governor Seyi Makinde, the Attorney General of Oyo State, and 11 others as defendants, requesting that the court order them to appear within thirty days.
In the complaint filed through his counsel, Kunle Sobaloju (SAN), the aggrieved prince stated that “the governor’s approval of Owoade’s appointment within five days of its presentation was unlawful, unconstitutional, invalid, null, and void.”
Gbadegesin claimed that the Oyomesi (kingmakers) had already chosen him as the lawful candidate, and he is seeking a court ruling that his nomination is valid.
He claimed that Governor Makinde’s decision violated due process in numerous crucial areas.
“The selection of the fourth defendant as the Alaafin of Oyo was carried out to the exclusion of rightful kingmakers who were neither suspended nor removed,” he argued.
He is, therefore, seeking “a declaration that the claimant, having been validly nominated by the Agunloye Ruling House and/or selected/appointed and/or proclaimed by the kingmakers of the Alaafin of Oyo (known as Oyomesi) as the candidate to fill the vacant stool of the Alaafin of Oyo in accordance with the Chief’s Law of Oyo State, 2000, and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, his appointment is valid, lawful, and proper.”
Gbadegesin also seeks an order directing the Governor of Oyo State to “immediately and forthwith approve the appointment of the claimant as validly nominated by Agunloye Ruling House and/or selected/appointed and proclaimed by the kingmakers of Alaafin of Oyo as the candidate to fill the vacant stool of the Alaafin of Oyo.”
In addition, the plaintiff petitions for “an order of injunction restraining the first, third, fifth, sixth, and ninth to thirteenth defendants, their agents, servants, and/or privies from recognizing or further recognizing the fourth defendant as Alaafin of Oyo and/or paying him the stipends, allowances, salaries, and all the prerequisites of office attached to the position of Alaafin of Oyo.”
In the suit, Gbadegesin seeks an order to set aside the nomination, selection, and/or appointment, approval, or appointment, and presentation of staff of office to Owoade as Alaafin of Oyo, claiming that it was done in violation of the provisions of the Chief’s Law of Oyo State, 2000, the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, and that it is unlawful, unconstitutional, invalid, and null and void.
The suit follows Sobaloju’s pre-action notice to the Governor of Oyo State, in which he claimed that the governor’s conduct violated the Oyo State Chief’s Law of 2000.
Gbadegesin, suggested by a group of the Oyomesi, is appealing to the court to set aside the appointment, approval of appointment, and presentation of personnel to a new Alaafin carried out by the
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has begun preparations for Owoade’s coronation as the new Alaafin.
The state administration and Owoade formed a coronation committee, which conducted its first meeting last week.
