Justice A. Ayoola of the Osun State High Court, sitting in Ile-Ife, on Thursday, voided the removal of Oba Adegboyega Famoodun as the Owa of Igbajo by the Osun State Government. The removal had followed the White Paper issued by the government, which was based on a panel’s probe into the events leading to Famoodun’s appointment as monarch in November 2022 under the administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
Justice Ayoola ruled that the White Paper and the entire process surrounding Famoodun’s removal were unlawful, granting all the reliefs sought by the claimant in the suit. The court declared that Oba Famoodun remained the valid monarch of the Igbajo community.
The legal team representing Oba Famoodun expressed satisfaction with the judgment, highlighting that the court had granted all the reliefs requested, including the nullification of the monarch’s removal. They argued that Famoodun’s installation had been done in accordance with legal procedures, and the removal was unjustified.
In response, Osun State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, acknowledged that the White Paper had been upheld by another court before, but noted that the state had the right to appeal the decision. He added that the State Ministry of Justice would determine the next steps, including any potential appeal.