Osun Delays Monarch’s Staff Presentation Following Court Order

The Osun State Government, on Saturday, said it had obeyed the order of an Osun State High Court, which restrained Governor, Ademola Adeleke from presenting staff of office to the new Aree of Iree, Oba Muritala Oyelakin.

The state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in a statement obtained in Osogbo, however, clarified that Oba Oyelakin had been appointed and installed.

An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo, had on Friday restrained Adeleke from presenting Staff of the Office to Oba Oyelakin.

The restraining order dated May 3, followed a motion ex parte filed by Oba Raphael Oluponle in a suit numbered HOS/20/2024 through his counsel HOS/20/2024 through his counsel, Abdulrahman Okunade, where he sought an order of interlocutory restraining Adeleke from proceeding further to install Oba Oyelakin as Aree pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

Other defendants in the suit are the state Attorney-General, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Boripe North Local Council Development Area, Osolo of Iree, Sobalaje Alao, Muritala Oyelakin, and three others.

Reacting to the development, Alimi, further said the state government had postponed until further notice the formal presentation of Staff of Office and instrument of appointment to Oba Oyelakin in obedience to the order of the court.

Alimi recalled that Osun State Executive Council presided over by Adeleke approved the appointment of the monarch on March 6, 2024, and the presentation of Staff of Office to him had been slated for Saturday.

The commissioner subsequently urged the monarch and the people of Iree to remain calm and law-abiding in spite of the court decision.

He said, “Following an Osun State High Court’s Ex-Parte ruling Presided over by Hon Justice M. O Awe against the presentation of Staff of Office to His Royal Majesty Oba Muritala Oyelakin as the Aree of Iree, the Government wishes to implore the monarch and the good people of Iree to remain calm and be law abiding.

“We want to state unequivocally that the status quo remains as the presentation of staff and instrument of appointment that would have been held today, 4th May 2024, is merely ceremonial and does not in any way invalidate the earlier approval granted Oba Oyelakin as the substantive Aree of Iree as approved by Governor Ademola Adeleke led Osun State Executive Council.”