An Osun State High Court sitting in Ikirun has stopped Governor Ademola Adeleke from presenting staff of office to Prince Muritala Oyelakin as the new Aree of Iree.
Also restrained from going ahead with the presentation of staff of office ceremony is Prince Muritala Oyelakin himself.
The trial high court judge, Justice I. Awe said the order would subsist until the determination of the substantive suit filed by Oba Ademola Ponnle alongside eight others in the matter.
BAR & BENCH WATCH reports that upon assumption of office, Governor Adeleke had cancelled the appointment of Oba Ademola Ponnle by his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola as the Aree of Iree.
The governor had appointed Muritala Oyelakin as replacement.
The kingmakers in the town were however said to have shunned the traditional rites of Oba Oyelakin.
Aggrieved by the decision of the governor, Oba Ademola Ponnle approached the state high court in Ikirun to annul the decision of the governor removing him from office even as he insisted that he remains the king of Iree.
The development brought about emergence of two persons—Oba Ademola Ponnle and Prince Muritala Oyelakin— laying claim to the stool of Aree of Iree in the Boripe local government area of Osun state.
Notwithstanding the fact that the emergence of Prince Muritala Oyelakin had become a subject of litigation at the state high court, the state government fixed Saturday, May 4, for the presentation of the certificate, instrument, and staff of the office to Oba Oyelakin as the Aree of Iree.
Ahead of the ceremony, Oba Ponnle brought an exparte application before the Ikirun high court to stop the ceremony.
The trial high court judge, Justice Awe moved in favour of the applicant and restrained Governor Adeleke, his government, and four traditional chiefs including the purported new king, Oba Oyelakin from going ahead with the ceremony of presentation of staff of office.
The Certified True Copy of the enrolled order reads: “I have no doubt in my mind having considered the deposition of the Applicant together with the attached Exhibits as well as 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 matter.
“Accordingly, the Claimant/Applicant’s application succeeds and it is hereby ordered as prayed.
“And specifically, the Governor of Osun and other respondents are hereby restrained from issuing Prince Muritala Oyelakin with a Certificate, instrument, and/ or Staff of Office as the Aree of Iree or taking any further steps in formally installing him.”
The order noted that Oyelakin must not take any instrument and/ or Staff of Office as the Aree of Iree or take any further steps in formally installing him pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction filed in respect of the same subject.
The court thereafter fixed Wednesday, May 8 for the hearing of the matter.
