An Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife has ordered a halt to the planned burial of the Asiwaju of Ifetedo, Chief Moses Ayanbeku.
The presiding judge, Justice A.O. Adeniji, issued an interim injunction restraining all parties involved from proceeding with burial arrangements pending the determination of a motion on notice.
The court also directed the Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital Complex, OAUTHC, Ile-Ife, not to release the remains of the deceased to family members or their representatives.
Chief Ayanbeku’s burial had earlier been scheduled to take place between April 22 and 26, 2026.
The claimant, Mrs Gifty Ayangunilayo Fagunwa (née Ayanbeku), approached the court seeking to stop the burial rites, presenting five prayers before the court.
All the prayers were granted, including “an order restraining the Registered Trustees of Ife Diocese, Anglican Communion, and its Bishop, Rt Rev. Olubunmi Akinlade, from conducting any funeral or burial services”.
The court also barred Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex from releasing the remains of the deceased for burial.
According to the enrolled court order in suit number HIF/17/2026, there are 17 respondents in the matter, including fourteen children and grandchildren of the deceased led by Hon. Ayandiran Ayanbeku.
Other respondents include the Registered Trustees of Ife Diocese, Anglican Communion, the presiding Bishop, and the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Morbid Anatomy and Forensic Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
A Certified True Copy of the order stated, “An order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the 1st–14th defendants, their agents, privies, or anyone acting on their behalf from taking any further steps in the planning, preparation or conduct of the burial.”
The order stated that the defendants are restrained from conducting “any funeral service, burial rite, commendation service, or any religious ceremony whatsoever” in respect of the deceased.
The court fixed April 20, 2026 for the hearing of the motion on notice.
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