The Akinboro Family of Lagokun Ruling House in Alade-Idanre in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State has approached the Ondo State High Court over the planned appointment of warrant chiefs towards filling the Aladeokun stool.
The state government had announced in a media briefing after the State Executive Council meeting on 30th December, 2025 that approval had been given to that effect.
Counsel to the Akinboro Family, Femi Emmanuel Emodamori said there was no legal justification for appointing the warrant chiefs since the preconditions stated in the Chiefs Law for such appointments did not exist.
He explained that the Ondo State Government White Paper on Ajakaiye Chieftaincy Review Commission, which contains the Aladeokun Chieftaincy Declaration, recognizes only Lagokun Ruling House for Aladeokun, comprising the Akinbola and Akinboro families, which produce the Aladeokun in order of rotation.
He said the White Paper also lists six kingmakers who have the traditional right or duty to appoint a new Aladeokun.
Emodamori stressed that since the immediate past Aladeokun was from the Akinbola Family, it is now the turn of the Akinboro Family to produce the next Oba and the Kingmakers have already nominated Otunba Ademola Akinboro-Akingbaso in line with the Native Law and Custom of Alade-Idanre and the relevant provisions of the Chiefs Law of Ondo State.
In his words, “Section 9(1) of the Ondo State Chiefs Law stipulates that one-half of the Kingmakers could form a quorum to conduct their business, during which the most senior amongst them would preside”.
“Section 9(2) of the Law further states that where the Kingmakers could not form a quorum as a result of death, incapacity or unwillingness of some of them to perform their duties, the State Executive Council can then appoint some persons, otherwise known as warrant chiefs to replace the deceased or incapacitated Kingmakers so that they can have the statutorily prescribed quorum to appoint the Oba”.
“In this case, there are six Kingmakers. One-half of six is three. Three of the Kingmakers are dead, but the three who are still alive (The Lisa, Sasere and Odunwo) have met, deliberated, consulted the Ifa Oracle and appointed Otunba Ademola Akinboro-Akingbaso from Akinboro Family as the next Aladeokun of Alade-Idanre. The necessary customary rites have been performed for him in the palace of Aladeokun”.
“His appointment is only awaiting the approval of the State Executive Council. So, there is no basis for appointing the purported warrant chiefs to do what has already been validly done by the Kingmakers”.
“Let’s not play sacrilegious and disastrous politics with our highly cherished tradition, Emodamori stressed.
The counsel confirmed that his client, Otunba Ademola Akinboro-Akingbaso and the Akinboro Family had approached the court to stop the State Government from appointing a new Aladeokun through the alleged unlawful warrant chiefs, stressing that there are also several other matters in court over the Aladeokun Stool in which the State Government is a party.
Another member of the legal team, Prof. Gbenga Oke-Samuel explained that though two other families, Bajulaye and Akinnadeju instituted a Suit in 1995 seeking to be included among the ruling families for Aladeokun and later had a consent judgment which merely recommended their inclusion, the state government had never taken any action to amend the extant Aladeokun Chieftaincy Declaration as contained in the White Paper on Ajakaiye Chieftaincy Review Commission.
He also added that the consent judgement itself was recently litigated upon before Hon. Justice Omolara Adejumo, culminating in a judgment which invalidated the claim by the Akinnadeju and Bajulaye families that they were entitled to the Aladeokun Stool.
Meanwhile, speaking with newsmen at Alade-Idanre, the Regent and Lisa of the town, High Chief Akinsowon Oladipo stated that there no was basis for the appointment of warrant chiefs since half of the kingmakers were available to play their roles as stated in the law and had already appointed a new Aladeokun for Alade-Idanre.
