Prince Lukman Gbadegesin has filed a court case challenging the appointment of Prince Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo by Governor Seyi Makinde
Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, a contender for the position of the Alaafin of Oyo, has headed to court to contest the appointment and the presentation of the staff of office to Prince Akeem Owoade by Governor Seyi Makinde.
In a pre-action notice signed by his legal representative, Adekunle Sobaloju SAN, Gbadegesin is seeking for the court to set aside both the governor’s appointment of Owoade and the subsequent presentation of the staff of office.
The notice, which was addressed to Governor Makinde, argues that the governor’s actions violated the Oyo State Chiefs’ Law 2000.
Gbadegesin’s challenge follows a heated dispute between the governor and the kingmakers over the selection of a new Alaafin.
While five out of the seven Oyomesi members, the kingmakers of Oyo, had recommended Gbadegesin for the role, Governor Makinde approved Owoade’s appointment and officially presented him with the staff of office on January 10, 2025.
The statement, issued by Gbadegesin’s legal team, further contends that the governor’s decision is in violation of the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, which grants sole authority to the Oyomesi in selecting the Alaafin.
The lawyer’s letter to the governor pointed out that the governor’s reliance on Ifa consultation, a traditional practice in the selection of the Alaafin, contradicts a 2022 court ruling that declared such consultations unlawful in the selection process, as they are not outlined in the 1961 declaration.
Moreover, the letter disputed allegations of bribery raised against two Oyomesi members over a year after the selection process, stating that these claims lacked formal communication or credible investigation.
The legal action seeks an order to nullify the governor’s appointment and presentation of Owoade as the Alaafin, declaring it invalid due to violations of the law.
Gbadegesin’s legal team is also requesting that the court affirm his selection as the rightful candidate to fill the vacant stool of the Alaafin, in line with the Chiefs’ Law of Oyo State and the 1961 Chieftaincy Declaration.
This case is the latest chapter in the ongoing dispute over the leadership of the Oyo monarchy, which has sparked controversy and divided the royal family and political leaders in the state.
