Court stops Sanwo-Olu from installing man as monarch

A Lagos State High Court, sitting in Epe, has barred the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sawo-Olu, from installing or recognising the Alaketu-elect, Adelaja Akeem, as a monarch in the Ketu area of the state.

The court also ordered Akeem to stop parading himself as the traditional ruler of the Ketu town in Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area, Epe Local Government Area of the state.

A copy of the court order was made available to our correspondent in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Tuesday.

The stool of the community became vacant following the demise of the Oba Adegboyega Adefowora who passed away in 2021.

It was gathered that there had been controversies surrounding who will succeed the late monarch.

Also, some princes had been contesting to become the next king of the community.

Three princes of the town, through their lawyer, Mr Tajudeen Kotun, had approached the High Court to stop Mr Akeem from parading himself as the head and traditional ruler-elect of the community.

The applicants are Prince Adekoya Adefowora, Prince Taiwo Olayemi, and Prince Rasheed Adesanya representing the royal family.

In the suit, Sanwo-Olu, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Executive Chairman, Ikosi-Ejirin LCDA Epe Local Government Area, 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 first to eighth defendants respectively.

It was also learnt that Akeem who is the fifth defendant in the suit was alleged to be parading himself as the next Alaketu of Ketu kingdom while the matter was still in the court of law.

Also in suit number 8925GCMW/2022, the applicants also asked the court to restrain other defendants from installing or recognising Akeem as the Alaketu-elect because the kingship matter was still pending in the court.

In his ruling, the judge, Justice S.A Olaitan, granted an interlocutory order to restrain the state and the traditional chiefs of the community 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.