The appointment and presentation of the staff office to Prince Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo by Governor Seyi Makinde has been challenged in court by Lukman Gbadegesin, one of the princes who ran for the position.
Gbadegesin, who reportedly received a recommendation from an Oyomesi group, is requesting that the court overturn the governor’s selection, acceptance of the appointment, and staff presentation of a new Alaafin.
He argued that the governor’s actions violate the Oyo State Chiefs’ Law 2000 in a pre-action notice signed by his attorney, Adekunle Sobaloju SAN, and given to the governor in copy form.
The choice of a new Alaafin has been the subject of a contentious disagreement between the governor and the kingmakers.
Gbadegesin had been suggested for the position by five of the seven Oyomesi members.
On January 10, however, Makinde gave Owoade his official title of Alaafin and introduced him to the office personnel.
The governor said during the occasion that he would not permit the Alaafin stool to be politicised and that those who allegedly paid to undermine the state’s historic institution would be prosecuted.
“By announcing a different candidate, the governor has usurped the powers of the Oyomesi, violating the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, which makes the Oyomesi the sole authority for the selection of the Alaafin.
The letter read, “The governor’s alleged reliance on Ifa consultation contradicts the judgment of the Oyo State High Court of 19th December 2022, which declared Ifa consultation in the selection process unlawful, as It Is not provided for in the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, and the allegations of bribery by two Oyomesi members, raised over a year after the selection, lack credibility and were not formally communicated to the Governor or investigated.”
According to his lawyer, he is looking for “an order setting aside the purported appointment, approval of appointment and presentation of staff of office to Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as Alaafin of Oyo as it was done in violation of the provisions of the Chief’s Law of Oyo State, 2000, the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961,unlawful, unconstitutional, invalid, null and void” and a declaration that he “was validly selected and or appointed by the Kingmakers of Alaafin of Oyo as the candidate to fill the vacant stool of the Alaafin of Oyo in accordance with Chiefs Law of Oyo State, 2000 and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961 and therefore his appointment is valid, lawful and proper.”