Appeal Court Halts Adeleke In Fresh Twist Over Akirun Chieftaincy Battle

The appellate court on Monday ordered all parties involved to maintain the status quo regarding the stool currently occupied by Oba Olalekan Akadiri.

The Osun State Government had earlier declared the throne vacant and instructed all stakeholders to await the outcome of the ongoing appeal process. This followed the release of a white paper based on reports from committees set up to review issues arising from executive orders issued by Governor Adeleke in November 2022.

In a ruling delivered by Justice S.O. Nwaka Gbagi, the Court of Appeal barred the governor and other parties from taking any further action on the chieftaincy matter until the appeal is resolved.

Oba Akadiri, through his counsel, N.O. Oke, SAN, informed the court that the chairman of the town’s kingmakers, Chief Kareem Adetoyese, had allegedly written to the Gboleru Ruling House requesting the submission of candidates for the vacant stool.

The monarch argued that this move violated the earlier directive that all processes relating to the chieftaincy dispute should be suspended pending the court’s decision.

Counsel representing the various parties, including the Gboleru Ruling House and the Osun State Attorney-General’s office, agreed that no further action should be taken until the matter is fully resolved.

Counsel to the kingmakers, Chief Sola Ebiseni, also supported the application for all sides to maintain peace and preserve the status quo in the community.

The court noted that it had received reports that steps were allegedly being taken to process fresh nominations despite the government’s white paper instructing a halt to all actions.

It further held that although the matter was still before the court, there were indications of ongoing attempts to proceed with nominations, which had been acknowledged by counsel representing the parties.

The court therefore ordered all parties to maintain the status quo and avoid any actions that could disturb peace and order pending the final determination of the appeal.