One of the candidates vying for the Alaafin of Oyo throne, Prince Ismail Owoade, has taken legal action against Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. The lawsuit challenges the governor’s decision to involve Professor Wande Abimbola in the selection process by consulting the Ifa oracle to determine the next Alaafin of Oyo.
In the filed suit at the Oyo State High Court, Owoade, a relative of the newly appointed Alaafin, Oba Akeem Owoade, objected to the appointment of Professor Abimbola, claiming it goes against Oyo Native Law and Custom, as well as the relevant state laws.
Owoade seeks a court ruling declaring Governor Makinde’s action as “invalid, illegal, null, and void.”
The lawsuit, represented by B.P. Ogundele, dated January 28, 2025, names Prince Ismail Olamilekan Owoade as the plaintiff, with the defendants including the Governor of Oyo State, Attorney-General of Oyo State, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and others.
Owoade argues that if consulting the Ifa oracle is necessary, the responsibility should rest with the Baba Iyaji of Oyo, the Oyo Mesi, and the Oluwo Alaafin. He insists that the governor lacks the authority to engage Professor Abimbola for this purpose.
He requests the court to invalidate the appointment process and prevent the presentation of Oba Akeem Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo on April 4, 2025, citing violations of established laws.
Furthermore, Owoade demands that the correct procedures, involving Baba Iyaji, be followed in selecting the most qualified candidate for the Alaafin stool.
In response, the Alaafin-designate, Oba Abimbola Owoade, rejects the unauthorized formation of a coronation committee and asserts that any such committee must have his explicit consent and approval.
The monarch instructs the organizers to halt their plans for the coronation, warning that any unauthorized activities will not be tolerated.
The statement emphasizes that all initiatives must be cleared by the office of the Kabiyesi before proceeding.