Osun court restrains Gov Adeleke from installing new Olojo of Ojo

The interim injunction followed a suit marked HED/18/2026, filed by A. Mikaheel on behalf of five applicants, who are members of the ruling house seeking to protect their interests in the selection of the traditional ruler.

The applicants are Princes Babatunde Hammed Adegoke, Taofeek Adekunle Adegoke, Nathaniel Olaniyi Adelakun, Abiodun Adelakun and Olukunle Oyetunji.

They instituted the action on behalf of themselves and other members of the ruling house against Governor Adeleke, the Osun State Attorney-General, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Egbedore Traditional Council.

Other defendants include Prince Mike Abiola, representing members of the Onimolodun Ruling House, and High Chief Falowo Jamiu Adebayo, representing the kingmakers and warrant chiefs involved in the selection process.

The applicants had approached the court seeking an interim injunction to prevent the defendants and their representatives from installing, appointing, declaring, recognising or accepting any candidate as the next Olojo of Ojo.

In their application, they requested an order restraining the parties from taking any action regarding the installation of a new monarch pending the hearing and determination of their motion on notice.

Justice K. Akano granted the application in an order dated October 29, 2026, a copy of which was obtained in Osogbo on Friday.

The judge stated, “An order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the defendants, their allies, agents, privies, successors and/or whosoever is claiming through them from installing, appointing, declaring, recognising and/or accepting any candidate as Olojo of Ojo.”

The court stated that the restriction would remain in force “pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed on 11th March, 2026”.

Justice Akano added that the order was issued at Ede under the seal of the court and signed by the presiding judge on October 29, 2026.

The development comes amid another chieftaincy dispute in Osun State, following a separate legal action instituted by four ruling houses in Ijabe, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, against the state government over the appointment of a new Onijabe.

The Ijabe families are challenging the Osun State Executive Council’s decision of October 23, 2026, which reportedly nullified the town’s 2018 amended chieftaincy declaration and approved the appointment of Babatunde Omotosho Tajudeen as the Onijabe of Ijabeland.

The state government had announced his appointment on Saturday, October 24, 2026, in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi.