Alaafin selection: Court declines Oyo kingmakers’ request in suit against Makinde

An Oyo state high court has again declined a request by a faction of Oyomesi (kingmakers) for an order for parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of their suit against Seyi Makinde, governor of the state.

Ladiran Akintola, the presiding judge, declined the request on Thursday while hearing a fresh suit filed by the Oyomesi faction against Makinde, the Oyo state attorney general and the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs.

The factional kingmakers who instituted the suit are Yusuf Layinka, Bashorun of Oyo; Wakeel Oyedepo, Lagunna of Oyo; Amusa Yusuf, Akinniku of Oyo; Wahab Oyetunji, Areago Bashorun and Gbadebo Mufutau, Alapo of Oyo.

The suit by the Oyomesi wants the court to order Makinde, and the other defendants to desist from interfering in the Alaafin selection process already determined by the Oyomesi.

At the court session on Thursday, Kazeem Sobaloju, counsel to the claimants, sought to secure an order for the parties to maintain the status quo again despite the notice of the preliminary objection filed by the defence counsel.

However, the court declined and fixed December 14 for a hearing.

Sobaloju had sought the same declaration from the court at the hearing of an earlier suit by the claimants marked HOY/38/2023, on October 31, but the judge declined the request.

The judge had noted that the defendants should be allowed to be joined in the suit by filing a counter-affidavit, adding that only then would he be able to decide the status quo.

He had subsequently adjourned the hearing till November 2.

But at the resumed hearing on November 2, counsel to the claimants announced the withdrawal of the suit and the filing of a fresh one.

The judge therefore struck out the suit and fixed November 9 for the commencement of the hearing in the fresh suit.