Osun High Court Halts Installation of New Olojo of Ojo

An Osun State High Court, presided over by Justice K. Akano, has issued an interim injunction restraining Governor Ademola Adeleke from appointing or installing a new Olojo of Ojo in the Egbedore Local Government Area. The court order, dated October 29, 2026, serves as a temporary halt to the selection process while a motion on notice remains pending.

Details of the Legal Action

The legal challenge, filed under suit number HED/18/2026, was initiated by five members of a ruling house: Princes Babatunde Hammed Adegoke, Taofeek Adekunle Adegoke, Nathaniel Olaniyi Adelakun, Abiodun Adelakun, and Olukunle Oyetunji. Represented by A. Mikaheel, the applicants sought the court’s intervention to protect their interests regarding the selection of the traditional ruler.

The defendants named in the suit include Governor Adeleke, the Osun State Attorney-General, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Egbedore Traditional Council. Additionally, the suit names Prince Mike Abiola, representing the Onimolodun Ruling House, and High Chief Falowo Jamiu Adebayo, representing the kingmakers and warrant chiefs involved in the process.

Court Order Scope

According to the order obtained in Osogbo, the court has explicitly prohibited the defendants, their agents, and successors from taking any steps to install, appoint, declare, recognize, or accept any candidate for the Olojo of Ojo stool. The injunction is set to remain in effect until the court hears and determines the motion on notice, which was originally filed on March 11, 2026.

Broader Context of Chieftaincy Disputes

This legal development occurs against a backdrop of ongoing chieftaincy tensions within Osun State. The state is currently managing a separate dispute involving the town of Ijabe in the Odo-Otin Local Government Area. In that case, four ruling houses have challenged the state government’s decision to appoint Babatunde Omotosho Tajudeen as the Onijabe of Ijabeland.

The Ijabe dispute stems from an October 23, 2026, decision by the Osun State Executive Council, which reportedly nullified the town’s 2018 amended chieftaincy declaration. The state government announced the appointment of the new Onijabe on October 24, 2026, via a statement from the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi.

Conclusion

The interim injunction in the Olojo of Ojo case ensures that the status quo is maintained until the court can further deliberate on the merits of the applicants’ claims. As of this report, the government has not issued a public response regarding the specific impact of this court order on its broader chieftaincy administration policies.

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p class=”vbna-source-note”>Source: Daily Post Nigeria

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