An Osun High Court in Ile-Ife has reinstated Adegboyega Famodun as the Owa of Igbajo, nullifying the state government’s revocation of his appointment.
The court overturned the White Paper and Executive Order issued by Governor Ademola Adeleke, which had questioned Famodun’s selection and called for a new chieftaincy process.
In January 2024, the Osun State Government released six White Papers following investigations into various chieftaincy matters across the state. One of these papers invalidated the previous selection process that led to the appointment of Oba Philip Adegboyega Famodun III as Owa of Igbajo.
Famodun was appointed by former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in 2022, just before his tenure ended. However, after Governor Adeleke assumed office on November 27, 2022, he revoked the appointment and set up a committee to review the selection process. The committee’s findings led to an Executive Order that nullified Famodun’s installation.
Famodun challenged this revocation in court, arguing that his appointment followed the proper legal procedures and should not be annulled.
Justice A.O. Ayoola ruled that the Executive Order and White Paper had no legal authority to invalidate a properly conducted chieftaincy process. The court’s judgment reinstates Famodun as the rightful Owa of Igbajo, rejecting the state government’s actions against his appointment.
