A frontline contender to the throne of Alaafin of Oyo, Prince Lukman Gbadegesin has challenged the proclamation of Prince Akeem Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin by the Oyo State Government.
Gbadegesin in a suit he filed at the Oyo State High Court on 12 February, is praying the court to reverse the appointment of Owoade, describing it as a violation of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State, 2000, and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961.
In the suit, the Oyo prince is also seeking court’s injunction to prevent Owoade from assuming the throne or performing any royal duties.
Defendants listed in the suit include Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, the Attorney General of Oyo State, and 11 others as defendants, who Gbadegesin is praying the court to compel their appearances within 30 days.
The aggrieved prince in the suit, filed through his lawyer, Kunle Sobaloju (SAN), is contending that the governor’s approval of Owoade’s appointment within five days of its presentation was unlawful, unconstitutional, invalid, null, and void.
Gbadegesin argued that he had been previously selected by the kingmakers (The Oyomesi) as the rightful candidate, htereby demanding a declaration of the court affirming his nomination.
He maintained that the decision of Governor Makinde to announce another prince violated due process in several key areas.
“The selection of the fourth defendant as the Alaafin of Oyo was carried out to the exclusion of rightful kingmakers who were neither suspended nor removed,” he argued.
Sobaloju insisted that a declaration that the claimant, having been validly nominated by the Agunloye Ruling House and/or selected, appointed, and proclaimed by the kingmakers of the Alaafin of Oyo (known as Oyomesi) as the candidate to fill the vacant stool of the Alaafin of Oyo in accordance with the Chiefs Law of Oyo State, 2000, and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, his appointment is valid, lawful, and proper.
Gbadegesin is also seeking an order directing the Governor of Oyo State to “immediately and forthwith approve the appointment of the claimant as validly nominated by the Agunloye Ruling House and/or selected, appointed, and proclaimed by the kingmakers of the Alaafin of Oyo as the candidate to fill the vacant stool of the Alaafin of Oyo.”
Furthermore, the plaintiff is asking for “an order of injunction restraining the first, third, fifth, sixth, and ninth to thirteenth defendants, their agents, servants, and/or privies from recognising or further recognising the fourth defendant as Alaafin of Oyo and/or paying him the stipends, allowances, salaries, and all the prerequisites of office attached to the position of Alaafin of Oyo.”
He further demands an order setting aside the nomination, selection, appointment, approval, or presentation of the staff of office to Owoade as Alaafin of Oyo, insisting that it was done in violation of the provisions of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State, 2000, and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, and is therefore unlawful, unconstitutional, invalid, null, and void.
The suit comes after a pre-action notice filed by Sobaloju, addressed to the Governor of Oyo State, insisting that the governor’s actions contravene the Oyo State Chiefs Law, 2000.
Gbadegesin who was recommended by a faction of the Oyomesi is appealing that the court set aside the appointment, approval of appointment, and presentation of the staff of office to a new Alaafin carried out by the governor.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the Oyo State Government and Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade have recently set up committees to organise the coronation slated for April 5.