Mr Babajide Sawo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, has been barred by a Lagos State High Court in Epe from installing or recognizing Adelaja Akeem, the Alaketu-elect, as the monarch in the Ketu area of the state.
The court has also ordered Akeem to stop parading himself as the traditional ruler of Ketu town in Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area, Epe Local Government Area of the state.
The court order was made available to a correspondent in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Tuesday.
The vacant stool of the community arose following the death of Oba Adegboyega Adefowora in 2021, which resulted in controversies surrounding who would succeed him. Three princes of the town had approached the High Court through their lawyer, Mr Tajudeen Kotun, to stop Mr Akeem from parading himself as the head and traditional ruler-elect of the community. The applicants are Prince Adekoya Adefowora, Prince Taiwo Olayemi, and Prince Rasheed Adesanya representing the royal family.
In the ruling of the case with suit number 8925GCMW/2022, the judge, Justice S.A Olaitan, granted an interlocutory order restraining the state and the traditional chiefs of the community from installing or recognizing Akeem as the Alaketu-Elect of Ketu town.
The court also granted an interlocutory injunction restraining Akeem from parading himself as the Alaketu of Ketu-elect until the hearing and determination of the substantive suit. The case has been adjourned until May 3, 2023.