On Saturday, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State postponed the official presentation of the staff of office to the new Aree of Iree, Oba Muritala Oyelakin, till further notice.
This follows a court order that restrained the governor from presenting the staff of office to the monarch.
News About Nigeria gathered that in March 2024, the Osun state governor approved the appointment of Oba Oyelakin after sacking Oba Raphael Ponle, who was installed by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in 2022.
The governor sacked Ponle on the grounds that the appointment did not follow due process.
Following the action taken by the governor, the two monarchs have been at loggerheads, with each of them laying claim to the throne.
Delivering judgement on the matter on Friday, Justice Michael Awe of the Osogbo High Court, through an ex-parte order, restrained the state government from officially presenting the instrument of office to Oba Oyelakin.
The court’s decision follows an interlocutory injunction by Oba Ponle.
The dethroned monarch had prayed to the court to stop the process pending the determination of the substantive suit, whose hearing will commence on Wednesday, May 8.
Reacting to the court order in a statement on Saturday, the Osun State Government, through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, explained that the decision to postpone the installation of the new monarch is because the state governor has respect for the rule of law.
He said, “Osun State Government has postponed until further notice the formal presentation of the staff of office and the instrument of appointment to Oba Muritala Oyelakin, the newly appointed Aree of Iree.
“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 mere 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.”
