Alaafin Seeks Supreme Court Order to Stop Oyo Govt from Recognising Ago-Oja Chieftaincy
The Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja, has been asked to restrain the Oyo State Government from creating, recognising, or elevating the chieftaincy stool of Baale Ago-Oja pending the determination of an appeal before it.
In a motion on notice dated January 30, 2026, and filed under Appeal No. SC/404/2018, the Alaafin of Oyo is seeking interlocutory and mandatory injunctions against the Governor of Oyo State and the state Attorney-General.
The motion, filed pursuant to Order 2 Rule 28(1) of the Supreme Court Rules, 2014 (as amended), and Section 6(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, requests the apex court to halt all actions relating to the disputed chieftaincy stool pending the final determination of the appeal.
The suit was originally instituted by the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.
Through his counsel, Adeola Omotunde (SAN), the Alaafin is asking the court to restrain the state government from creating or re-establishing the Baale Ago-Oja chieftaincy stool and from appointing or recognising Alhaji Ganiyu Busari as its holder.
The applicant is also seeking orders preventing the government from recognising Busari in any capacity as Baale Ago-Oja and from elevating the chieftaincy from Part III (Minor Chief) to Part II (Recognised Chief).
Additionally, the Alaafin is asking the court to stop the planned installation or coronation of Busari as Oloja of Ago-Oja, scheduled for February 13, 2026, at Olivet High School, Oyo, or any other venue.
The motion further urges the court to set aside Oyo State Gazette No. 01, Vol. 50 of January 17, 2025, in so far as it relates to the elevation of the Baale Ago-Oja chieftaincy.
According to the Alaafin’s legal team, the chieftaincy stool had earlier been declared non-existent by the Oyo State High Court in a judgment delivered on July 31, 2007. The Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, affirmed the judgment on December 8, 2017.
The lawyers argued that any attempt to revive or recognise the chieftaincy despite subsisting court judgments would undermine the judicial process and prejudice the appeal pending before the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the Alaafin’s counsel has also written to Governor Seyi Makinde, warning that proceeding with the planned coronation would amount to illegality and contempt of court.
In the letter dated February 8, 2026, the lawyers stated that previous court rulings had declared the Baale Ago-Oja title non-existent and restrained authorities from recognising Busari in that capacity.
They further alleged that despite the pending appeal, the state government issued a fresh approval letter to Busari and elevated the chieftaincy through a state gazette issued in January 2025.
Describing the planned coronation as unlawful, the lawyers urged the governor to halt the process and respect existing court judgments.
The appeal and the accompanying motion have not yet been fixed for hearing by the Supreme Court.
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