Alaafin Stool: Prince Owoade Sues Gov. Makinde, Others Over Alleged Exclusion

Monarchy

Alaafin Stool: Prince Owoade Sues Gov. Makinde, Others Over Alleged Exclusion

Reported by Ojo Racheal

Prince Ismaila Olamilekan Owoade, an aspirant for the Alaafin of Oyo throne, has filed a lawsuit against Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and 19 others over his alleged exclusion from the selection process.

Owoade claims that due process was disrupted by the governor, who appointed Prince Abimbola Owoade—the fourth defendant in the suit—before the process was completed.

The legal action challenges the legitimacy of the appointment and seeks redress over what he describes as an unjust truncation of the selection process.

The claimant is praying the court restrain Prince Abimbola Owoade 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 alleged that it excluded Baba Iyaji.

In a suit filed by his counsel, Mr. Bamidele Ogundele, before Justice Jimoh Adesina of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Oyo, who has therefore fixed March 11, 2025, for hearing of the suit.

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

According to The Independent, Aside from the governor, Prince Olamilekan Owoade 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 Owoade; Prince Lukman Ayinla 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 12 defendants, Chief Mukaila Afonja (Baba Iyaji of Oyo) under paragraphs 5(a) and (b) of the registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, who must present the candidate who, in his opinion, is best qualified to be appointed, together with the names of the other candidates, to the Kingmakers under the leadership of 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 applicant's prince based on the criteria by Oyo Mesi and representatives of the ruling house after due consultation with other stakeholders.

The claimant is therefore praying to the court for an order restraining the 5th defendant, Prince Gbadegesin, Prince Abimbola Owoade, which excluded Baba Iyaji under paragraph 5(a)&(b) of the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, who must present the candidate to the kingmakers who, in his opinion, are best qualified to be appointed, together with the names of the other candidates to the kingmakers under the leadership of Basorun of Oyo, did not comply with the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961 and the Chiefs Law of Oyo State 2000.

“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 authority on the 4th day of April 2025 based on the fact that his appointment by the 1st defendant, his privies and agents did not follow due process which excluded the 12th defendant, Baba Iyaji under paragraph 5(a)&(b) of the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961 who must present the candidate who in his opinion is best qualified to be appointed, together with the names of the other candidates to the Kingmakers under the Leadership of Basorun of Oyo did not comply with the Chiefs Laws of Oyo State 2000 and Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961.

"An order of the court directing/mandating the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants and the Kingmakers (Oyo Mesi) to complete the process started by the Baba lyaji under paragraph 5(a)&(b) of the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961 appointing the claimant, PRINCE Ismaila Olamilekan Owoade, as the Alaafin of Oyo, which complied 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 Lukman Ayinla Gbadegesin had filed a suit before the court challenging the present Alaafin.