Alaafin Stool: Oyomesi Files Suit To Stop Makinde From Sacking Them

The Oyomesi in Council, (kingmakers in Oyo town), have filed a suit to stop the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde from removing and replacing them.

Naija News reports that the Oyomesi’s move comes amidst struggles in the selection of the next Alaafin of Oyo stool.

In the suit marked HOY/38/2023 before the Oyo State High Court in Oyo, five kingmakers are the claimants in the case seeking a court injunction to restrain the governor and his agents “from aborting the process for the selection/appointment of the candidate for filling the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo duly conducted by the kingmakers of Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy.”

It was gathered that the kingmakers, who filed the suit, are the Bashorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Layinka; Lagunna of Oyo, High Chief Wakeel Oyedepo; Akinniku of Oyo, High Chief Amusa Yusuf; Areago Bashorun, Chief Wahab Oyetunji; and the Alapo of Oyo, Chief Gbadebo Mufutau.

Along with Makinde, other defendants in the suit are the Oyo State Attorney General; and the state’s Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

The kingmakers explained that they had at a meeting on September 30, 2023, unanimously selected Prince Lukuman Gbadegesin as the next Alaafin of Oyo to fill the ancient stool, which has become vacant since April last year, following the passing of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who was the 45th Alaafin of Oyo.

Among other things, the kingmakers are praying the court to restrain the Oyo State governor and his agents from nullifying the choice of Gbadegesin and “approving or recognising any other candidate” as the next Alaafin “after a duly conducted process for the filling of the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo in accordance with the native law, custom and Chieftaincy Declaration of Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy.”

They are also seeking the court to restrain Makinde and the other defendants from removing them as Oyo kingmakers or “dissolving the Oyomesi in Council or appointing or selecting warrant chiefs to conduct or start a fresh process for the filling of the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo.”

The kingsmakers want the court to stop the defendants from “harassing, disturbing, preventing or stopping the claimants from carrying on their traditional functions and responsibilities as kingmakers of Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy.”

Recall that on 18 October the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), called on some of the Oyo kingmakers for questioning over allegeations of bribery in relation to the selection of the next Alaafin.

It was gathered that the petitioner alleged that the kingmakers collected bribes running into millions of naira to favour a particular candidate, hence the decision of EFCC to summon them for questioning.

It was learnt that the kingmakers who honoured the EFCC invitation were accompanied by their lawyers and were asked to write statements, after which they were freed.