Prince Ismaila Olamilekan Owoade, an aspirant for the Alaafin of Oyo chieftaincy stool, has filed a suit against Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and 19 others. He accuses them of excluding him from the process by appointing Prince Abimbola Owoade as the Alaafin, which he claims was done in violation of due process.

The claimant, in a suit filed by his counsel, Mr Bamidele Ogundele, before Justice Jimoh Adesina of Oyo State High Court sitting in Oyo, is praying the court to restrain Prince Abimbola and also Prince Lukman Ayinla Gbadegesin (5th defendant) from parading themselves as the Alaafin of Oyo on the basis of the process of their appointment, as he alleges that it excluded Chief Mukaila Afonja, the Baba Iyaji of Oyo.

The court has therefore fixed March 11, 2025, for the hearing of the suit.

The claimant is seeking an order of the court setting aside the purported appointment and presentation of the staff of office to the 4th defendant, Prince Abimbola, as Alaafin of Oyo, as he said the same was conducted in violation of the provisions of the registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961 and the Chiefs Law of Oyo State 2000 and is consequently illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, invalid, null, and void.

Aside from the governor, Prince Olamilekan has also instituted the suit against the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Oyo State, Prince Abimbola, Prince Gbadegesin, Prince Yusuf Layinka (The Basorun of Oyo), Chief Lamidi Oyewale (the Iba Samu of Oyo), and Chief Asimiyu Atanda (The Agbaakin of Oyo).

Also, Chief Wakeel Oyedepo (The Laguna of Oyo), Chief Amusa Yusuf (The Akinku of Oyo), Chief Moshud Aborode (Ona Ilemole), Chief Mukaila Afonja (The Baba Iyaji of Oyo), Chief Isiaka Tella Titiloye (Ona Isokun of Oyo), Chief Oyedemi Olatunde Oyelowo (The Mogba of Oyo), Chief Samuel Olusegun Odunrinde (Alajagba of Ajagba of Oyo), Chief Ganiyu Busari (The Alagooja of Oyo), Chief Gbadebo Mufutau (Alapo of Okeapo, Oyo), Chief Wahab Oyetunji (Aareago Basorun of Oyo), Chief Ikusaanu Ifaleye (Oluwo of Alaafin Oyo), and Atiba Local Government, Oyo town, as the first to 20th respondents respectively.

In his statement of claim, Prince Owoade stated that the governor and all other constituted authorities failed to comply with due process, which excluded the 12th defendant, Chief Afonja (Baba Iyaji of Oyo), under paragraph 5(a) and (b) of the registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961. Baba Iyaji must present the candidate he believes is best qualified to be appointed, along with the names of other candidates, to the Kingmakers under the leadership of the Basorun of Oyo and the Chiefs Laws of Oyo State 2000 and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1981, hence the grievances of the claimant now ventilated before the court.

He said that It is the responsibility of the 12th defendant (Baba Iyaji) to conduct a transparent screening amongst the applicants based on the criteria set by Oyo Mesi and representatives of the ruling house after due consultation with other stakeholders.

The claimant Is therefore praying the court for an order restraining the 5th defendant, Prince Gbadegesin, and Prince Abimbola, who excluded Baba Iyaji under paragraph 5(a) and (b) of the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, from presenting themselves as the Alaafin of Oyo.

He also seeks an order of interlocutory injunction, restraining Prince Akeem Owoade from being presented as Alaafin of Oyo by the 1st defendant, Oyo State Governor, and all constituted authorities on April 4, 2025, on the basis that his appointment did not follow due process, which excluded the 12th defendant, Baba Iyaji, under paragraph 5(a) and (b) of the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961.

Finally, the claimant seeks an order of the court directing/mandating the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants and the Kingmakers (Oyo Mesi) to complete the process started by Baba Iyaji under paragraph 5(a) and (b) of the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, appointing the claimant, Prince Ismaila Olamilekan Owoade, as the Alaafin of Oyo, in compliance with the Chiefs Law of Oyo State 2000 and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961.

Justice Adesina has therefore fixed March 11, 2025, for hearing.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that Prince Gbadegesin has filed a suit before the court challenging the present Alaafin. (The Guardian)

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