An Osun State High Court in Ile-Ife has reinstated Adegboyega Famodun as the Owa of Igbajo, overturning the state government’s decision to revoke his appointment.
The court invalidated both the White Paper and Executive Order issued by Governor Ademola Adeleke concerning the Owa of Igbajo chieftaincy title.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Osun State Government had released six White Papers in January 2024 after conducting an investigation into various chieftaincy disputes across the state. One of these White Papers nullified the previous selection process that led to the emergence of Oba Philip Adegboyega Famodun III as the Owa of Igbajo.
Famodun was appointed and officially installed by former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in 2022, towards the end of his administration. However, upon assuming office on November 27, 2022, Governor Adeleke revoked the appointment and established a committee to review the matter.
Based on the committee’s recommendations, an Executive Order was issued, annulling Famodun’s installation and mandating a new selection process.
Challenging this decision in court, Famodun argued that his appointment was conducted lawfully and should not have been revoked.
In her ruling, Justice A.O. Ayoola stated that the Executive Order and White Paper lacked legal authority to overturn a legitimately conducted chieftaincy process.
