A High Court sitting in Osogbo has denied the prayer of the Osun State government to vacate the order preventing Governor Ademola Adeleke from issuing certificates, instruments and staff of office to Prince Muritala Oyelakin as the Aree of Iree.
The state government, Oyelakin, and seven others had approached the court to vacate the restraining order granted to Oba Raphael Oluponle, which stopped the official presentation of staff of office to Oyelakin on May 3, 2024. The court also refused to grant the interlocutory injunction sought by Oba Oluponle to restrain Governor Adeleke from taking any further steps on the Aree stool.
During the hearing, counsel to Oba Oluponle, Dr. Muritala Abdurasheed, SAN, informed the court that the substantive matter was already before the court and parties had been served accordingly. He urged the court to grant the interlocutory injunction, stating that proceeding with further steps on the matter would be contemptuous of the judiciary.
In his ruling, Justice M.O Awe refused the application of the state government and Oyelakin and granted the interlocutory injunction sought by Oba Oluponle. The court restrained Governor Adeleke from issuing certificates, instruments, and staff of office to Oyelakin pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The court order reads, in part: “the application succeeds and it is hereby ordered as prayed. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants are hereby restrained from installing the 9th defendant as Aree of Iree or presenting a staff of office to him.”
It was recalled that the court had previously stopped Governor Adeleke from presenting staff of office to Oyelakin at an event scheduled to hold on May 4, 2024. The state government had obeyed the court order and suspended the ceremony.
Oba Oluponle had been appointed by the former governor’s administration but later faced challenges from Governor Adeleke’s administration. The case is still pending in court, and the court has now ruled to maintain the status quo.
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