Ogun State High Court has nullified the appointment and coronation of Oba Olugbenga Somade as the Akufon of Idarika, Iperu Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of the state.In a certified true copy of the judgment dated March 5 and made available to our correspondent on Friday, the presiding judge of 2025, the court, Justice O. S. Oloyede, described Somade’s appointment as executive recklessness.’’

Justice Oloyede who delivered the ruling on Wednesday in Sagamu, said it was wrong for the government to have installed and conducted a coronation for Somade on July 24, 2024, despite being aware of the pendency of an application for the interlocutory injunction restraining such action.

The court disclosed that Pa Fasasi Ogunmuyiwa and Moshood Onakoya on behalf of Igun Ruling House, Idarika, Iperu Remo, in a suit filed against Somade’s installation on May 23rd, 2024 had among other reliefs asked the court to nullify his selection.

According to the judge, the defendants in the suit include the Executive Council of Ogun State, Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Sina Ogungbade, SAN; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat; and Ikenne Local Government.

Justice Oloyede disclosed further that when the news filtered out that Somade would be coronated on July 24, 2024, the claimants filed an ex parte application for motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

The judge said the application was heard on July 23 while the claimants’ request to serve the motion on notice on Somade and others through substituted means was also granted, and the matter was adjourned to August 1, 2024.

He stated that notwithstanding the service of the motion for interlocutory injunction on all the defendants, the state government disregarded the authority of the court by installing and coronating Somade.

Justice Oloyede held that the position of the law was that “Once a dispute has arisen between a person and a government or authority and the dispute has been brought before the court, thereby invoking judicial powers of the state, it is the duty of the government to allow the law to take its course or allow the legal and judicial process to run its full course.

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

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

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