A prince from the Agunloye Ruling House, Prince Gbadegesin, has taken legal action to challenge the appointment of Oba Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo.
Gbadegesin claims he was the rightful candidate for the throne, stating that he was “validly nominated by Agunloye Ruling House and or selected/appointed and or proclaimed by the kingmakers of the Alaafin of Oyo (known as Oyomesi) as the candidate to fill the vacant stool of the Alaafin of Oyo in accordance with the Chief’s Law of Oyo State, 2000 and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961.” He argues that his selection was lawful and should be recognized as such.
In his lawsuit, Gbadegesin is seeking a court order directing the Governor of Oyo State to “immediately and forthwith approve the appointment of the claimant as validly nominated by Agunloye Ruling House and or selected/appointed and proclaimed by the kingmakers of Alaafin of Oyo as the candidate to fill the vacant stool of the Alaafin of Oyo.”
Additionally, he wants the court to stop the recognition of Owoade as the Alaafin. He is requesting “an order of injunction restraining the first, third, fifth, sixth and ninth to thirteenth defendants, their agents, servants and or privies from recognising or further recognising the fourth defendants as Alaafin of Oyo and or paying him the stipends, allowances, salaries and all the prerequisites of office attached to the position of Alaafin of Oyo.”
Gbadegesin argues that the appointment of Owoade was done in violation of the Chief’s Law of Oyo State, 2000, and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961. He insists that the process was unconstitutional, invalid, and should be declared null and void.
This lawsuit comes after a pre-action notice filed by Sobaloju, who also questioned the governor’s role in the selection process, stating that it violated the Oyo State Chief’s Law.
