Court overrules Gov Adeleke, reinstates Famodun as Owa of Igbajo

Court overrules Gov Adeleke, reinstates Famodun as Owa of Igbajo

An Osun High Court in Ile-Ife has reinstated Adegboyega Famodun as the Owa of Igbajo, nullifying the state government’s revocation of his appointment.

The court overturned the White Paper and Executive Order issued by Governor Ademola Adeleke, which had challenged Famodun’s selection and called for a fresh chieftaincy process.

The Osun State Government released six White Papers in January 2024, following investigations into various chieftaincy matters across the state. One of these documents nullified the previous selection process that led to the emergence of Oba Philip Adegboyega Famodun III as the Owa of Igbajo.

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Famodun was appointed and installed as Owa of Igbajo by former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola towards the end of his tenure in 2022. However, upon assuming office on November 27, 2022, Governor Adeleke revoked the appointment and formed a committee to review the selection process. The findings of the committee culminated in an Executive Order nullifying Famodun’s installation.

Famodun challenged the revocation in court, asserting that his appointment followed due process and could not be annulled.

In her ruling, Justice A.O. Ayoola declared that the Executive Order and White Paper lacked the legal authority to invalidate a validly conducted chieftaincy process. The judgment restores Famodun as the rightful Owa of Igbajo and rejects the state government’s actions against his appointment.

Court overrules Gov Adeleke, reinstates Famodun as Owa of Igbajo