- Justice Awe granted the prayers of Oba Ponnle of stopping the presentation of the staff of the office to Oba Oyelakin on Saturday.
Barely one month after the court sacked a monarch appointed by Governor Ademola Adeleke, Justice Micheal Awe, stopped him from presenting staff of office to the second king of Iree, Oba Muritala Oyelakin.
Recall that two kings emerged as the Aree of Iree in the Boripe local government area of Osun state after Adeleke rejected the appointment of Oba Ademola Ponnle by his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola and appointed Muritala Oyelakin as king.
However, there has been a crisis in the community over the emergence of two kings and kingmakers shunning the traditional rites of Oba Oyelakin.
Subsequently, Saturday, May 5, was fixed for the presentation of the certificate, instrument, and staff of the office to Oba Oyelakin as the Aree of Iree.
However, Justice Awe of the State High Court sitting in Ikirun, Osun State restrained Governor Adeleke, his government, and four traditional chiefs including the king, Oba Oyelakin from going ahead with the ceremony of presentation of staff of office.
The Certified True Copy of the enrollment order obtained by The Nation on Friday, May 3, which stated that Oba Ademola Ponnle in suit number HOS/20/2024 dragged the Osun State governor joined by eight others and prayed to the court to stop the ceremony.
Justice Awe granted the prayers of Oba Ponnle of stopping the presentation of the staff of the office to Oba Oyelakin on Saturday.
The order read: “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.
Justice Awe hereby fixed the hearing on the matter to Wednesday, May 8.