Segun Atanda/
The Osun State High Court in Ile-Ife has reinstated Oba Adegboyega Famodun as the Owa of Igbajo, nullifying the state government’s decision to revoke his appointment.
The court’s ruling overturned the Executive Order and White Paper issued by Governor Ademola Adeleke regarding the chieftaincy dispute in Igbajo, Boluwaduro Local Government Area of Osun State.
Oba Adegboyega Famodun, the immediate past Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, was appointed as the Owa of Igbajo by the former administration of Governor Gboyega Oyetola in November 2022.
Famodun’s selection followed the death of his predecessor, Oba Olufemi Fashade, who passed away in December 2021 after serving as monarch for 30 years.
Famodun, a prominent politician, faced significant opposition from certain factions within Igbajo, who claimed the process of his appointment violated traditional customs.
When Governor Adeleke assumed office in late 2022, he launched a review of several controversial chieftaincy appointments made by the Oyetola administration.
In January 2024, the Osun State Government issued six White Papers based on the recommendations of various panels investigating chieftaincy disputes. One of these led to the revocation of Oba Famodun’s appointment as the Owa of Igbajo, effectively deposing him from the throne.
Oba Famodun challenged the legality of the government’s actions in court, arguing that the revocation of his appointment lacked due process and contravened established laws governing traditional rulership.
Delivering judgment, the Osun State High Court held that the Executive Order and White Paper issued by Governor Adeleke were invalid as they failed to adhere to the proper legal framework for addressing chieftaincy disputes.
The court further ruled that Oba Famodun’s appointment as the Owa of Igbajo was valid and should be reinstated immediately.
The judgment has significant implications for the ongoing chieftaincy disputes in Osun State, as it reaffirms the judiciary’s role in resolving conflicts between traditional institutions and government authorities.
The state government has not yet announced whether it will appeal the ruling.
This development adds a new dimension to the delicate relationship between traditional rulers and state governments, with many watching to see how this will affect other disputed chieftaincy appointments.
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