Lawyers to sue Ondo govt over alleged interference in Supare-Akoko stool dispute
By Boye Oyeyemi
Lawyers to a contender for the Olusupare of Supare-Akoko stool, Prince Solomon Animasahun Adelakun, have threatened to institute contempt proceedings against the Ondo State Government over its approval of Prince Adewale Fatunsi Richard as the traditional ruler despite a pending court case.
The legal firm, Tolu Babaleye & Co., in a statement issued on Wednesday, described the State Executive Council’s ratification of Richard’s appointment as illegal, alleging that it violated a subsisting court order and undermined the authority of the judiciary.
The solicitors said the chieftaincy dispute is still before the Ondo State High Court, Oka Division, in Suit No. HKA/32/2024, noting that both parties had concluded their cases and the matter had been adjourned until September 23, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses.
The statement added, “There is a valid and subsisting interlocutory injunction restraining the Ondo State Government from taking any step to approve the appointment pending the determination of the substantive suit. The government’s action amounts to a flagrant disobedience of a court order.”
The lawyers further argued that the state government was fully aware of the proceedings because its counsel participated in the hearing alongside lawyers representing other parties before the matter was adjourned.
They said, “By proceeding with the approval, the government has resorted to self-help, overreached the court and acted in a manner capable of rendering the pending proceedings nugatory. This is a direct affront to the rule of law and the doctrine of separation of powers.”
The firm urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to suspend the approval of Prince Richard’s appointment until the court delivers judgment, warning that continued disregard for judicial orders could heighten tension over the disputed traditional stool.
It added that unless the approval is reversed, it would commence contempt proceedings against the governor and other officials involved, insisting that respect for court orders remains essential to preserving peace and the integrity of the judicial process in the state.
