Court Injunction Sought As Oyo Kingmakers Fight To Preserve Alaafin Selection

Amidst ongoing challenges in the selection of the next Alaafin of Oyo, the Oyomesi, a group of kingmakers, have taken legal action seeking a court injunction against the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and his representatives…CONTINUE READING

The lawsuit, marked HOY/38/2023, was filed before the Oyo State High Court in Oyo and involves five kingmakers who aim to prevent the governor and his agents from interfering with the process for selecting the next Alaafin of Oyo, duly conducted by the kingmakers.

The kingmakers who initiated the legal action include the Bashorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Layinka; Lagunna of Oyo, High Chief Wakeel Oyedepo; Akinniku of Oyo, High Chief Amusa Yusuf; Areago Bashorun, Chief Wahab Oyetunji; and the Alapo of Oyo, Chief Gbadebo Mufutau.

The kingmakers unanimously selected Prince Lukuman Gbadegesin as the next Alaafin of Oyo during a meeting on September 30, 2023, to fill the vacant stool left by the passing of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the 45th Alaafin of Oyo, in April of the previous year.

The kingmakers are seeking the court’s intervention to prevent the governor and other defendants from nullifying the selection of Gbadegesin, recognizing any other candidate, or interfering with their roles and responsibilities as kingmakers in accordance with the native law, customs, and Chieftaincy Declaration of Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy.

The legal action comes after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) summoned some of the Oyo kingmakers for questioning in relation to allegations of bribery during the selection process for the next Alaafin.

The petitioner claimed that the kingmakers had accepted bribes to favor a particular candidate, prompting the EFCC’s investigation.

This legal dispute has added a new layer of complexity to the ongoing selection process and reignited debate and scrutiny over the centuries-old traditions and practices associated with the Alaafin of Oyo.