An Osun State High Court sitting in Ede has granted an interim injunction restraining Governor Ademola Adeleke from appointing or installing a new Olojo of Ojo in Egbedore Local Government Area. The court order, issued on October 29, 2026, will remain in force pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice filed on March 11, 2026. The suit was 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, Princes Babatunde Hammed Adegoke, Taofeek Adekunle Adegoke, Nathaniel Olaniyi Adelakun, Abiodun Adelakun, and Olukunle Oyetunji, instituted the action 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.
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. The court order restraining Governor Adeleke from installing a new Olojo of Ojo is a significant development in the chieftaincy dispute in Osun State. The governor and other defendants are now required to await the court's decision before taking any further action.
The judge, Justice K. Akano, stated that the order of interim injunction was 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 order was issued at Ede under the seal of the court and signed by the presiding judge on October 29, 2026.
The court's decision is a temporary reprieve for the applicants, who are members of the ruling house seeking to protect their interests in the selection of the traditional ruler. The case is now pending before the court, and a decision is expected in due course. The court's order has effectively put on hold the installation of a new Olojo of Ojo pending the determination of the motion on notice.
Key points
- The Osun State High Court has restrained Governor Ademola Adeleke from appointing a new Olojo of Ojo pending the determination of a motion before it.
- The court order was issued on October 29, 2026, and will remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
- The development is part of a larger chieftaincy dispute in Osun State, with another dispute ongoing in Ijabe, Odo-Otin Local Government Area.
