The Oyo State High Court in Oyo town has adjourned the case brought by five out of six Oyo Mesi against Governor Seyi Makinde, the State Attorney General, and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matter.
This case concerns the selection of the new Alaafin of Oyo and is scheduled for a hearing on Thursday.
As reported by The Nation Newspaper, the claimants in the suit (HOY/38/2023) include High Yusuf Akinade Ayoola (Basorun of Oyo town), High Chief Wakeel Akindele Oyedepo (Laguna of Oyo town), High Chief Amuda Yusuf (Akinniku of Oyo), High Chief Waheed Oyetunji (Aare Ago Basorun), and Chief Gbadebo Mufutau (Baale Alapo). All the claimants were present in court.
During the proceedings, the lead Counsel to the claimants, Kazeem Sobaloju, (SAN), pleaded for a stay of status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.
He argued that the claimants have two motions before the court: a motion exparte on interim order of injunction and a motion of notice on interlocutory injunction.
On the other hand, Counsel to the defendants, E.O. Ojebisi, a Senior State Counsel at the Oyo State Ministry of Justice, stated that they had just been served the motions, not meeting the required five-day notice as per legal procedures.
He requested more time to file a counter affidavit.
Despite the urgency pleaded by Sobaloju, Justice Ladiran Akintola insisted that there was no urgency in the matter.
He directed the counsels to agree on a date for the hearing and emphasized that the defendants should be given the opportunity to be joined in the suit with the filing of a counter affidavit.
The judge stated that the ruling on the stay of the status quo would come after these procedures.
Meanwhile, indigenes of the town protested outside the court with placards, expressing their grievances against the delay in selecting the new monarch.
They urged the governor to adhere to due process and approve the candidate chosen by the masses. The hearing is set to continue on Thursday.
