Court Restrains Ondo State Government From Appointing Oba In Ondo Community:

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Court Restrains State Government From Appointing Monarch In Ondo Community.

A High Court of Ondo State presided over by Justice T. M Adedipe yesterday restrained the Ondo State Government from appointing anyone as Oba in Alagbon Community in the Ugbo area of Ilaje Local Government of the state.

Ruling on a Motion filed on behalf of the Claimants by D. J Ayenowo Esq of Sola Ebiseni and Associates in the pending Suit N0 HOK/76/ 2022 the Court granted the following prayers:

AN ORDER OF INTERIM INJUNCTION restraining the Defendants by themselves, privies or any person being beneficiaries of their actions thereof from taking any steps towards appointing anyone as an Oba by whatever title or name at Alagbon Community in the Ugbo Area of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State pending the determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction and the final determination of this suit.

AN ORDER restraining the Defendants either severally or jointly from taking any step that may jeopardise, affect, ridicule the fair and just determination of this suit or render or appear to render the judgment thereon nugatory.

AN ORDER nullifying, vacating and setting aside any step, decision or further step or decision by letter, notice, document, staff or Instrument of Office or anything whatsoever or howsoever taken or done by the Defendants or anyone acting for or on their behalves purporting to appoint anyone as Oba in Alagbon Community in the Ugbo Area of Ilaje Local Government pending the determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction or the final determination of this case.

It will be recalled that the indigenes of Alagbon Community led by a former Commissioner for Information in the state and Asogbon of Ugboland, High Chief Isiah Adewole Demehin and Chief Mallon Ogede the Baale of Alagbon have sued the state government in Suit N0 HOK/76/ 2022 for approving an Oba for the community with the title Gbogunron of Alagbon based on the White Paper on Justice Ajama Commission of Inquiry.

In the case filed on their behalves by the Chambers of Chief Sola Ebiseni, the community sought declaration that the Gbogunron Family being not indigenous to the community or part of the customary law of its Chieftaincy cannot be the title or produce an Oba of the town. 

They alleged that a Commissioner in the state from the Gbogunron Family unduly influenced the government to impose its family on the community.

The case which is at the final stage with all parties having called their witnesses had been adjourned till 9th October after court vacation.

Meanwhile, briefing the public at the end of the Executive Council Meeting on Wednesday 30th July 2025, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro said the Council had confirmed the appointment of Prince Olusola Joseph Ajaka as the pioneer Gbogunron of Idi-Ogba Alagbon in Ilaje Local Government while Prince Isiaka Oseni had also been approved as the new Alale of Akungba.

It was in reaction to the development that the Alagbon community approached the court the following day for the orders not only restraining government from taking any steps in furtherance of the appointment but also vacating and nullifying all actions taken in that regards.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a highly placed official of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs confirmed the service of the order on the Ministry 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, Secretary to the State Government, the Olugbo of Ugbo have been served the order including the Chambers of Prince Idowu Mafimisebi, solicitors to the Gbogunron Family.