Osun: Court restrains Gov Adeleke from installing Prince Muritala Oyelakin as Aree of Iree
By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo has ordered the state government not to issue Prince Muritala Oyelakin with certificate, instrument and/or staff of office as the Aree of Iree.
The presiding judge, Justice M. O. Awe, while given the order on Friday in a motion ex-parte brought before the court by the sacked Oba Raphael Ponle Ademola, also barred the state government from taking any further steps in formally installing Oyelakin as the Aree of Iree pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
While Oba Raphael Ponle Ademola, who was removed by the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, is the Claimant in the suit marked HOS/20/2024, Governor of Osun State, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Osun State, Osun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Boripe North Local Government Area, Chief Sobalaje Alao (the Osolo of Iree land), Chief Saliu Atoyebi (the Aogun of Iree land), Chief Sanusi Babawale (the Innurin of Iree land), Chief James Adebisi Bankole (the Jagun of Iree land) and Prince Muritala Oyelakin are the Defendants.
The Applicant, had through his lawyer, Abdulrahman Okunade moved the application and prayed the court for an order of interlocutory restraining the 1st (Governor) 2nd (AG), 3rd (LG Commissioner) and 4th (Iree North LGA) Defendants/Respondents from issuing the 9th Defendant/Respondent (Prince Oyelakin) with certificate, instrument and/or staff of office as the Aree of Iree, or taking any further steps in formally installing Oyelakin as the Aree of Iree pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The respondents were absent and they were not legally represented in court.
Consequently, Justice Awe asked Adeleke and others to desist from formally installing Oyelakin, adding that the defendants should not issue him with certificate and instrument of office.
“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 same matter.
“Accordingly, the Claimant/Applicant’s application succeeds and it is hereby ordered as prayed. And specifically, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Respondents are hereby restrained from issuing the 9th Defendant (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 instrument and/or Staff of Office as the Aree of Iree or taking 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 which is hereby fixed for Wednesday 8th day May, 2024,” Justice Awe stated.
Our Correspondent reports that the state government had slated tomorrow Saturday for the presentation of certificate, instrument and staff of office to Prince Muritala Oyelakin as the new Aree of Iree.