Ogun: Court voids appointment of Olugbenga Somade as Akufon of Idarika

The Ogun State High Court sitting in Sagamu has set aside the appointment, enthronement, and coronation of Olugbenga J. Somade as the Akufon of Idarika, Iperu Remo, Ogun State.

The Presiding Judge, Justice O.S Oloyede, while ruling on a motion filed before it by Pa Fasai Ogunmuyiwa and Prince Moshood Onakoya as first and second applicants respectively (for themselves and on behalf of the Igun Ruling House of Idarika), said it was unfortunate that the Executive Council of Ogun State approved the appointment of Somade, who was the 5th defendant in Suit No. HCS/245/2024.

The applicants had approached the court asking for the order of the court to set aside the purported appointment, enthronement, and coronation of the 5th defendant as the Akufon of Idarika, Iperu Remo, Ogun State, which was carried out and executed on the 24th of July, 2024, during the pendency of the applicants’ motion on notice filed on the 23rd of May, 2024, for an order of interlocutory injunction, as well as the substantive suit.

The applicants also prayed the court to set aside the approval of the appointment, presentation of staff of office, and certificate/instrument of appointment given to Somade as the Akufon of Idarika, Iperu Remo, by the Executive Council of Ogun State; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; and the Secretary, Ikenne Local Government Area, as 1st-4th defendants, respectively.

Justice Oloyede said the Ogun State Executive Council ought not to have approved the appointment of Somade as the Akufon of Idarika, after having been served with a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, when the Executive Council as the 1st defendant and the Attorney General, the second defendant, were aware of the pendency of the application for interlocutory injunction against the defendants in the case.

He said, “All these acts constitute an affront to the rule of law and an arrogant and despicable show of power. The instant application succeeds and it is hereby granted.

“Accordingly, the approval of the appointment, enthronement, and coronation of the 5th defendant, Olugbenga Somade, as the Akufon of Idarika, Iperu Remo, is hereby set aside for having been carried out during the pendency of the application for interlocutory injunction in this case.

“Consequently, the presentation of the staff of office and certificate/instrument of appointment given to the 5th defendant during the pendency of the application for interlocutory injunction in this case is hereby set aside.”

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