Court Deposes Oluloro of Ekiti Over Non-Compliance with Coronation Rites

An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has ordered the deposition of the Oluloro of Iloro Ekiti, Oba Femi Olugbesoye, due to his failure to comply with traditional coronation rites.

The Ekiti State Executive Council appointed Olugbesoye as the Oluloro of Iloro Ekiti on December 21, 2019.

Justice Jide Aladejana delivered the judgment in a case filed by Prince Olakunle Fadare and four others, challenging Olugbesoye’s ascension to the throne.

They claimed that Olugbesoye did not perform the required traditional rites, while the defendants argued that the court lacked jurisdiction over the matter.

In the judgment delivered on September 30, 2024, Justice Aladejana ruled, “The sole issue before the court is resolved in favor of the claimants. Therefore, the action of the claimants succeeds.

“I hereby declare that the first defendant’s failure to present himself for the coronation rites by the Aoropare, according to the Native Law and Custom of the Oluloro of Iloro Ekiti, is wrongful.

“I order the second to fifth defendants to depose the first defendant as the Oluloro of Iloro Ekiti in accordance with the Customary Law of Iloro Ekiti.

“I also issue an injunction restraining the first defendant from presenting himself as the Oluloro of Iloro Ekiti.”

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Justice Aladejana further stated, “I issue an injunction restraining the second to fifth defendants from dealing with or recognizing the first defendant as the Oluloro of Iloro Ekiti.”

The claimants, who approached the court in April 2022, sought various declarations, including one that the first defendant’s failure to perform the coronation rites was wrongful. They contended that the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti did not have the authority to install or coronate the Oluloro of Iloro Ekiti.

Additionally, they requested a court order to depose the first defendant in accordance with the native law and sought a perpetual injunction preventing the second to fifth defendants from recognizing or engaging with him as the Oluloro of Iloro Ekiti.

In his defence, the first defendant denied any violation of the customs and traditions of Iloro Ekiti and urged the court to dismiss the claimants’ case entirely. He contended that they should have approached the court for a judicial review or an order of mandamus.

The second to fifth defendants also sought dismissal of the suit, labelling it “grossly incompetent” and an “abuse of court process.”

Meanwhile, the counsel for the first defendant, Owoseni Ajayi, stated that an appeal had been filed against the judgment, although no date had been set for the hearing.