An Osun State High Court in Ede has barred Governor Ademola Adeleke from naming or installing a new Olojo of Ojo in Egbedore Local Government Area until it rules on a pending application.
Quick facts
- The case is listed as HED/18/2026.
- Five princes from the ruling house are seeking to protect their role in the succession process.
- Justice K. Akano issued the interim order on October 29, 2026.
- The restriction covers appointment, installation, declaration, recognition or acceptance of any candidate for the Olojo stool.
- The dispute follows a separate court challenge over the selection of an Onijabe in Ijabe, Odo-Otin Local Government Area.
The interim order arose from an action brought by A. Mikaheel for five applicants who belong to the ruling house and contest matters surrounding the choice of the community’s traditional ruler.
The applicants are Princes Babatunde Hammed Adegoke, Taofeek Adekunle Adegoke, Nathaniel Olaniyi Adelakun, Abiodun Adelakun and Olukunle Oyetunji.
They filed the suit for themselves and other ruling-house members against Adeleke, the Osun State Attorney-General, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Egbedore Traditional Council.
Also named as defendants are Prince Mike Abiola, representing members of the Onimolodun Ruling House, and High Chief Falowo Jamiu Adebayo, acting for the kingmakers and warrant chiefs involved in the nomination process.
The claimants asked the court to stop the defendants, as well as their representatives, from installing, appointing, proclaiming, recognising or receiving any person as the next Olojo of Ojo.
They further requested that no step be taken on the succession while the court considers and determines their motion on notice.
Justice Akano approved the request in an order dated October 29, 2026. A copy of the ruling was obtained in Osogbo on Friday.
The judge ordered that the defendants, their associates, agents, privies, successors and any parties acting through them must not install, appoint, declare, recognise or accept a candidate as Olojo of Ojo.
The restraint will continue until the court hears and decides the motion on notice lodged on March 11, 2026. The order was made in Ede, sealed by the court and signed by the presiding judge on October 29, 2026.
The Ojo litigation comes as Osun faces another traditional-rulership dispute. Four ruling houses in Ijabe, in Odo-Otin Local Government Area, have separately sued the state government over the planned appointment of a new Onijabe.
The Ijabe families are contesting an October 23, 2026 decision by the Osun State Executive Council that reportedly cancelled the town’s amended 2018 chieftaincy declaration and endorsed Babatunde Omotosho Tajudeen as Onijabe of Ijabeland.
The state government announced Tajudeen’s appointment on Saturday, October 24, 2026, through a statement from Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Kolapo Alimi.
