The Ondo State High Court sitting in Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area, has restrained High Chief Akindele Aladenika from parading himself as the regent of Ore community pending the determination of the substantive suit over the traditional stool.
The court also barred the Ondo State Government, its agencies and law enforcement authorities from recognising Aladenika as regent of the community until the case before the court is finally decided.
The order was made by Justice Ade Adegoroye in a ruling, a copy of which was made available to journalists on Sunday.
The dispute followed the vacancy created by the death of the Olore of Ore, Oba Johnson Olatomide, who passed away in 2020.
The state government was said to have approved the appointment of Aladenika as regent, but the decision was rejected by members of the Olore-in-Council, who insisted that the government should appoint a substantive monarch rather than a regent for the community.
It was alleged that Aladenika had been parading himself as the traditional ruler of the community with the support of the state government.
Four members of the Olore-in-Council, High Chief Monday Sawoju, High Chief Mrs Esther, Chief Tope Ijiniga and Chief Fakeye Sawoju, subsequently approached the court seeking an order of interlocutory injunction to restrain the state government and security agencies from recognising Aladenika as regent of Ore community.
The defendants in the suit are the Ondo State Governor, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government and one David Ijiniga.
The plaintiffs also asked the court to set aside the nomination, approval, documents and other activities that led to Aladenika’s appointment, pending the determination of a related case already before the court.
In its ruling, the court held that there was a subsisting injunction on the previous regency of the community which had not been determined.
Justice Adegoroye said the installation or recognition of another regent while the issue remained pending in court could amount to contempt and undermine the judicial process.
“The position of this case is a bit more precarious. The matter is sub judice, and the bone of contention is the regency of Ore,” the judge held.
“There is a subsisting injunction against the erstwhile regent, who unfortunately has joined his ancestors. It is an affront against the court for another person to be installed in defiance of the injunction, for whatever it is worth, and the fact that the case is still pending before the court. Tinkering with a matter that is sub judice could amount to contempt of court.
“In sum, I hold that this application succeeds in part. The first to fourth defendants/respondents and all law enforcement agencies are hereby restrained from further recognising High Chief Akindele Aladenika as the Regent of Ore pending the final determination of the substantive suit.
“The said High Chief Akindele Aladenika is also restrained from further parading himself as the Regent of Ore pending the final determination of the substantive suit.”
The court’s decision means Aladenika cannot present himself as regent of Ore or be officially recognised in that capacity until the substantive dispute over the stool is resolved.
