An Ondo State High Court sitting in the Okitipupa Judicial Division of the state has issued an interim injunction restraining the state government from appointing a traditional ruler in the Alagbon community, Ugbo axis of Ilaje Local Council, in the state.
The ruling, delivered by Justice T. M. Adedipe, followed a motion filed by the claimants through their counsel, D. J. Ayenowo of Sola Ebiseni, in the pending suit No. HOK/76/2022.
According to the court, an interim injunction granted barred the defendants, including the state government and its agents, from taking any steps toward appointing an Oba in Alagbon community pending the determination of the substantive suit.
While also preventing actions that could undermine the fair resolution of the case or render any future judgement ineffective through a restraining order, the court nullified any prior steps taken, including any purported appointment of an Oba, pending the final determination of the case.
The suit was initiated by indigenes of Alagbon community, led by High Chief Isiah Adewole Demehin, who is the Asogbon of Ugboland and former Commissioner for Information, as well as Chief Mallon Ogede (Baale of Alagbon).
They challenged the state government’s approval of a new chieftaincy title, the Gbogunron of Alagbon, based on the white paper from the Justice Ajama Commission of Inquiry.
The claimants argued that the Gbogunron family, allegedly not indigenous to Alagbon, should not produce the community’s Oba with an allegation that a state commissioner from the same family is influencing the government’s decision.
The court’s injunction came a day after the state Executive Council, during its Wednesday meeting, had reportedly confirmed Prince Olusola Joseph Ajaka as the pioneer Gbogunron of Idi-Ogba Alagbon.
The announcement, made by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, prompted the community to seek urgent legal intervention.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a top official from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs confirmed receipt of the order, stating that the Aiyedatiwa administration, being a respecter of the rule of law, will obey and comply with the order.
Also, the acknowledged copies of the order made available to the press showed that all the defendants, including the governor, the attorney general, the secretary to the state government, and the Olugbo of Ugbo, have been served with the order, including the Chambers of Prince Idowu Mafimisebi, solicitors to the Gbogunron family.
The case, which is at the final stage with all parties having called their witnesses, had been adjourned till October 9, 2025, after the court vacation.
