A Lagos State High Court in Epe has barred Lagos State Governor Mr Babajide Sawo-Olu from installing or recognising the Alaketu-elect, Adelaja Akeem, as a monarch in the state’s Ketu area.
The court also ordered Akeem to stop posing as the traditional ruler of Ketu in the state’s Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area, Epe Local Government Area.
On Tuesday, a copy of the court order was made available in Akure, the capital of Ondo State.
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Following the death of the Oba Adegboyega Adefowora in 2021, the community’s stool became vacant.
According to reports, there have been squabbles over who will succeed the late monarch.
In addition, some princes had been vying to be the community’s next king.
Three princes of the town had approached the High Court through their lawyer, Mr Tajudeen Kotun, to prevent Mr Akeem from presenting himself as the community’s head and traditional ruler-elect.
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The royal family’s applicants are Prince Adekoya Adefowora, Prince Taiwo Olayemi, and Prince Rasheed Adesanya.
In the suit, Sanwo-Olu, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Adelaja Akeem, Chief Mutiu Olokodana (The Oluwo of Ketu land), Chief Lateef Bello (The Eleku of Ketu land), and Chief Nasiriyu Tawariyu (Apena of Ketuland) were joined as the first to eighth defendants.
It was also learned that Akeem, the fifth defendant in the suit, was allegedly posing as the next Alaketu of Ketu kingdom while the case was still in court.
In addition, in suit number 8925GCMW/2022, the applicants asked the court to prevent other defendants from installing or recognising Akeem as the Alaketu-elect while the kingship case was still pending.
In his ruling, Justice S.A Olaitan granted an interlocutory order prohibiting the state and the community’s traditional chiefs from installing or recognising Akeem as the Alaketu-Elect of Ketu town.
The court ruled, ” An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted restraining the first to fourth defendants (Sanwo-Olu, the two commissioners and LCDA Chairman), whether by themselves, the agents, privies, officials and officers howsoever called from installing or recognizing the fifth defendant as the Alaketu of Ketu-elect pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted restraining the sixth to eighth defendants( the traditional chiefs of Ketu) whether by themselves, their agents, privies, officials and officers howsoever called from installing, recognizing and presenting the fifth defendant (Akeem) as the Alaketu of Ketu-elect to the first to fourth defendants/respondents pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted restraining the fifth defendant (Akeem) from parading himself as the Alaketu of Ketu-elect in whatever manner pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”
The court adjoined the case till May 3, 2023.
In a reaction, one of the applicants, Adekoya Adefowora, said since the matter was still in court, “Nobody is entitled to start parading himself as the New Alaketu of Ketu.” He enjoined the residents of the community to remain calm.
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