An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo, the state capital, has restrained Governor, Ademola Adeleke from presenting the Staff of Office to the new Aree of Iree town, Oba Muritala Oyelakin.
The restraining order dated Friday, May 3, followed a motion ex parte filed by Oba Raphael Oluponle in a suit numbered HOS/20/2024 through his counsel, Abdulrahaman Okunade, where he sought an order of interlocutory restraining Adeleke from proceeding further in installing Oyelakin as the Aree, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
Other defendants in the suit are Prince Muritala Oyelakin, the State Attorney-General, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, among others.
Counsel to the applicant, Okunade, who moved the application, sought an order of interlocutory restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants from issuing the 9th defendant, Oyelakin, with a certificate, instrument and/or staff of office as the Aree of Iree, or taking any further steps in formally installing him as the Aree of Iree pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The respondents were not legally represented in court.
After the application had been moved, the presiding judge, Justice M. Awe, held, “I have no doubt in my mind having considered the deposition of the applicant together with the attached exhibits, as well as the counsel’s submissions on same that this application ought to succeed.
“There is indeed an urgent need to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction also filed in respect of the same
Accordingly, the claimant/applicant’s application succeeds and it is hereby ordered as prayed.”
