DEJI OF AKURE VS IRALEPO OF ISINKAN: We are at Supreme Court challenging jurisdiction of this Honourable Court – Iralepo Counsel
*Government has exclusive powers to declare Iralepo a recognized chieftaincy - Attorney General *Supreme Court has taken over, we no longer have power to decide application for stay of execution - Court of Appeal
By KEMI KASUMU
The Iralepo, in his own appeal, challenged the judgment as being contrary to customary law and the Chiefs Law of Ondo State in that no Iralepo has ever been appointed by the Deji. His counsel informed the court that application for stay and injunction pending appeal is sought against the state government to which the judgment is directed and not the Deji who has no connection with any of the reliefs all of which are declaratory and unenforceable.
The DEFENDER reports that the application for stay of execution, filed by both the Iralepo of Isinkan and the Ondo State Government against the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the appeal filed by the Deji of Akure, could not be heard today as the Court of Appeal was told that the Appeal had been entered at the Supreme Court.
Counsel to the Iralepo of Isinkan, Chief Sola Ebiseni, stated that his clients had earlier appealed and transmitted records which have now been entered at the Supreme Court in SC/CV/268/2025.
Counsel to the Deji of Akure, Kolapo Kolade SAN, also admitted knowing that the appeal had been entered at the Supreme Court.
The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Ondo State represented by FS Akinnibosun also agreed.
The Court opined that in the circumstances, it no longer had jurisdiction to consider the application as the Supreme Court had become seized of it.
The respective applications were thus withdrawn and dismissed.
Our checks revealed that the Ondo State Government in 2005 declared the Iralepo of Isinkan a recognised chieftaincy (Oba) which the Deji insisted must be at his consent and filed a suit, which he lost at the High Court of the state and subsequently appealed to the Court of Appeal which allowed the appeal.
However, in their separate appeals to the Supreme Court, the Ondo State Government stated that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to subject the powers of the Executive Council to upgrade the Iralepo of Isinkan to the consent of the Deji or any other traditional ruler.
The Iralepo, in his own appeal, challenged the judgment as being contrary to customary law and the Chiefs Law of Ondo State in that no Iralepo has ever been appointed by the Deji.
His counsel informed the court that application for stay and injunction pending appeal is sought against the state government to which the judgment is directed and not the Deji who has no connection with any of the reliefs all of which are declaratory and unenforceable.
Meanwhile, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, said that he had appointed one Gbenga Henry Adeyeye as the new Chief Iralepo of Isinkan.
In his release on behalf of the Isinkan community, High Chief Kayode Oluyi, the Olisa of Isinkan Kingdom, reiterated that “Oba Oluwagbemiga Ajimokunola Olofin-Adimula (Arulewolasi III) remains the Iralepo and domiciled in the ancient Palace at Isinkan.
He wondered how Gbenga Henry Adeyeye, who contested the throne of Isinkan with Oba Olugbenga Ojo Olofin-Adimula and was rejected by the Isinkan people for being not eligible, would claim to have been appointed Iralepo by the Deji, who had never appointed an Iralepo in history.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Ondo State, Honourable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, said government would respect the rights of appeal of all parties to the limit allowed under the Constitution.
