Stool Dispute: Oba Alleges Forgery, Crave’s Makinde’s Intervention

By Ademola Ajao 

The Aresaadu of Iresaadu in Olorunsogo Local Government Area of Oyo State, HRM Oba Abraham Olafimihan Adeyeye Oyerinde, has appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene in what he described as a prolonged campaign of injustice against his stool, alleging forgery, unlawful withholding of his recognition and entitlements, and attempts to install a parallel monarch.

The monarch, through his legal counsel, Barrister S.T.A. Raji, made the allegations during a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Friday.

According to the monarch, some officials of the Oyo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, headed by Commissioner Ademola Ojo, were involved in forging official documents and issuing directives that sought to undermine his legitimacy despite his appointment and installation having been approved by the state government in 2019.

Raji alleged that a forged letter purportedly issued by officials of the ministry was used to withhold the monarch’s recognition and statutory entitlements, adding that although the matter had been reported to Governor Makinde, and the governor reportedly directed that it be investigated, no action had been taken.

He further claimed that after the alleged forgery case was suppressed, the ministry issued another letter in September 2025 to the Chairman of Surulere Local Government, directing him to commence the process of appointing another Aresaadu while Oba Adeyeye remained the substantive occupant of the throne.

Describing the development as unlawful, Raji said the letter, signed by the immediate past Director of Chieftaincy Matters, Mr A.M. Olajire, was based on the erroneous claim that a court had nullified Oba Adeyeye’s appointment.

“The unlawful letter was signed on the premise that a court judgment had nullified the appointment of Oba Adeyeye, when in actual fact no such judgment exists,” Raji said.

“On the contrary, there are multiple court judgments which not only affirm the appointment of Oba Adeyeye as the substantive Aresaadu of Iresaadu but also dismissed the case of the Emiolu Ruling House, who claimed it was their turn to produce a candidate for the throne.”

The lawyer maintained that the appeal filed by the Emiolu Ruling House was withdrawn on 2 May 2024, effectively bringing the litigation to an end.

He also accused the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters of ignoring legal advice from the Oyo State Ministry of Justice dated 11 January 2024, which allegedly recommended that Oba Adeyeye be accorded full recognition.

Raji stated that despite repeated correspondence—including letters written by the monarch on 9 March 2026 and another by his legal representatives on 15 June 2026—the ministry had failed to withdraw the September 2025 directive.

According to him, the commissioner also instructed representatives of the monarch to seek the consent of the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon regarding matters relating to the Aresaadu stool, a requirement he argued has no basis in the Chiefs Law of Oyo State or the Aresaadu Chieftaincy Declaration.

“This is a clear bias and abuse of office. It is a criminal offence to propagate falsehood and issue directives based on a lie. The action is sacrilegious and against the oath of office taken by the concerned officials,” Raji said.

The lawyer further alleged that the continued refusal to accord the monarch official recognition had denied him all the paraphernalia of office, statutory allowances, security and other entitlements due to him since his installation.

He added that the situation had created confusion within the community, claiming that some chiefs and princes had allegedly taken advantage of the dispute to install minor chiefs unlawfully and dispose of family lands without due authority.

He also alleged that the chairman of the local government had prevented Oba Adeyeye from carrying out his traditional responsibilities, a development he said was particularly troubling given prevailing security challenges.

To support the claims, Raji presented certified true copies of the monarch’s appointment letter dated 24 May 2019, the Instrument of Office, court judgments delivered in 2021 and 2023 affirming the monarch’s position, and legal advice issued by the Ministry of Justice.

He called on Governor Makinde to order the immediate withdrawal of the September 2025 letter, approve the release of the monarch’s outstanding entitlements and official paraphernalia, and sanction officials allegedly responsible for the disputed actions.

The traditional ruler also cautioned Commissioner Ademola Ojo against attempting to alter the Chiefs Laws of Oyo State or the Aresaadu Chieftaincy Declaration by introducing requirements that would make the consent of the Olugbon necessary for matters concerning the Aresaadu throne.

According to him, only the Oyo State House of Assembly possesses the constitutional authority to enact or amend such laws.

Oba Adeyeye appealed to the governor to intervene in the interest of justice, equity and the rule of law, insisting that he should be accorded all the rights and privileges attached to his office, including official correspondence as a member of the Oyo State Council of Obas and the appropriate traditional council.

The Oyo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of filing this report. Likewise, the state government had yet to issue an official statement on the claims.

The allegations remain those of the monarch and his legal representatives, and the officials named have not publicly responded to them.