Tension as court refuses to halt coronation of new Owa Obokun of Ijesaland

The Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa has declined a request to stop the coronation of Oba Clement Haastrup as the new Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, clearing the way for the ceremony to proceed as scheduled today (Friday).

At Thursday’s hearing, Justice M. Agboola ruled that the court could not entertain the application seeking to halt the coronation until the issue of proper service of court documents on the first respondent, Oba Haastrup, was resolved.

The suit, filed by the Arimoro family of the Bilaro Oluodo Ruling House, also listed Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dosu Babatunde, the Attorney General, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, and the Ilesa kingmakers as defendants. The case is registered as HL/8/25.

At the proceedings on Thursday, counsel for the claimant, Oyebola Odeleye, informed the court of a pending application already ripe for hearing, seeking to stop Haastrup’s coronation, urging the court to allow him to move it.

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But a Chief State Counsel, Muyiwa Ogunleye, representing Adeleke and the two commissioners joined in the suit, drew the attention of the court to an application filed by the counsel for the first respondent, Oluwasesan Dada, seeking to set aside service of the claimant’s process on his client.

The state counsel said Dada, who was not available at the day’s proceedings, having written to take permission to be absent due to another matter coming up before the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, at the penultimate hearing, claimed his client had not properly served the claimant’s application.

Ogunleye said Dada informed the court that Haastrup was already in seclusion and was not accessible at the time the claimant said the process was served on him.

In his ruling, Justice Agboola subsequently held that the issue of service must first be resolved before the application seeking to stop the coronation could be heard, and adjourned the matter till July 3 for hearing of all pending applications.

“It’s so sad that these pleadings were extended over four months instead of 60 days. Both parties have not been serious about the case.

“However, until the pending application has been addressed, it will be unwise for the court to grant the interlocutory injunction,” Agboola said.

Ahead of the coronation ceremony, the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Osun Sector of the Federal Road Safety Corps have deployed operatives for the success of the event.

The coronation, to be held at Obokungbusi Hall, Ilesa, with the reception taking place on the premises of Ilesa Grammar School, is expected to be attended by important dignitaries across the country and beyond.

Osun NSCDC, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kehinde Adeleke, sought cooperation of the attendees for a hitch-free ceremony.

“The command under the leadership of Commandant Igbalawole Sotiyo is working closely with other sister agencies to ensure comprehensive security arrangements for the coronation of the Owa Obokun Adimula, Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, which will be held on 23rd May 2025.

“In anticipation of a large turnout, NSCDC has deployed a significant number of personnel to manage the crowd, prevent disruptions, and ensure the safety of dignitaries and attendees.

“NSCDC patrol teams are already on the ground, maintaining a visible presence to deter potential security threats,” the statement read.

Also, the Osun Sector Public Education Officer of the FRSC, Agnes Ogungbemi, said the command had deployed operatives to routes around the venues of the ceremonies, to ensure easy vehicular and human movements.