Ademola Ajao, Reporting
IBADAN — The counsel to the Aresaadu of Iresaadu has made an urgent appeal to the Oyo State Government to intervene in what he describes as a calculated attempt by officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters to unlawfully remove a sitting monarch and install a parallel ruler.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday at the NUJ Secretariat in Iyaganku, Barrister S.T.A. Raji accused the Ministry, led by Honourable Commissioner Ademola Ojo, of issuing a directive in September 2025 to the Chairman of Surulere Local Government to begin the process of nominating a new Aresaadu.
This action, Barrister Raji argues, is based on the “falsehood” that a court judgment had nullified the appointment of HRM Oba Abraham Olafimihan Adeyeye Oyerinde, a claim he insists does not exist.
“Despite the record of Aresaadu at the disposal of the ministry which clearly shows the existence of the substantive Aresaadu, the Hon Commissioner directed such a letter to be written to convey falsehood,” Barrister Raji stated. “This action is indeed sacrilegious and against the oath of office taken by the concerned director and Hon Commissioner.”
The press conference marks the latest development in a long-standing dispute. Barrister Raji noted that this was the second such briefing on the matter, following a previous one in May 2024, and came after an open letter to Governor Seyi Makinde published in October 2025 yielded no resolution.
The legal team presented several court judgments to support their claim, including a Certified True Copy (CTC) of Oba Adeyeye’s Letter of Appointment and Instrument of Office issued on 24th May 2019. They also referenced a High Court judgment from February 2021 affirming Oba Adeyeye as the substantive Aresaadu and a subsequent ruling in March 2023 dismissing a case brought by the rival Emiolu Ruling House, which had sought to claim the throne. An appeal against the 2023 judgment was withdrawn by the Emiolu Ruling House in May 2024.
Barrister Raji further highlighted that the Ministry of Justice had issued a letter of advice on 11th January 2024, recommending that the Ministry recognise Oba Adeyeye. However, he alleged that the Commissioner has failed to act on this advice.
The Counsel detailed a series of alarming repercussions stemming from the Ministry’s actions. He claimed that the lack of formal recognition has created a state of lawlessness in Iresaadu, with some chiefs and princes illegally installing Baales and selling family lands. Furthermore, the Chairman of the Surulere Local Government is reportedly preventing the Oba from performing his official functions.
“It is clear that the actions of these government officials have impeded the Oba from fulfilling his responsibilities at this critical juncture of insecurity in the country, in which the roles of traditional rulers are very important in coordinating and monitoring their subjects in support of Government effort to curb the menace,” Barrister Raji explained.
The legal team has called on Governor Makinde to urgently intervene by approving the monarch’s long-overdue entitlements, directing the Commissioner to withdraw the “illegal” letter initiating a parallel nomination process, and investigating officials involved in the alleged abuse of office . They also warned the Commissioner against attempting to rewrite the Aresaadu Chieftaincy Declaration, particularly regarding the alleged need for the consent of the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, whom they state has no legal authority over the stool.
