The legal representatives of Prince Solomon Animasahun Adelakun have threatened to institute contempt proceedings against Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and other government officials over the approval of Prince Adewale Fatunsi Richard as the Olusupare of Supare-Akoko, describing the action as a violation of a subsisting court order.
Tolu Babaleye & Co, solicitors to Prince Animasahun, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, insisting that the state government's approval of the monarch by the State Executive Council on Tuesday was illegal because the chieftaincy dispute remains before the Ondo State High Court.
The law firm argued that the approval was granted despite a pending suit instituted by its client before the High Court sitting in Oka-Akoko, where the selection process for the Olusupare stool is being challenged.
According to the solicitors, the case, marked HKA/32/2024, has reached an advanced stage, with both parties having closed their cases. They noted that the matter has been adjourned until September 23, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses ahead of judgment.
The lawyers further alleged that there is a subsisting interlocutory injunction restraining the Ondo State Government from approving the appointment pending the determination of the substantive suit, stressing that the order remains binding on all parties.
The statement accused the government of disregarding the authority of the court by proceeding with the approval despite being aware of the pending litigation and the court order.
"It is on record that the Ondo State Government was represented by counsel at the last sitting of the court, where all parties closed their cases. Despite this, the government proceeded to approve the appointment, an action that amounts to self-help and undermines the authority of the court," the statement read.
The solicitors urged Governor Aiyedatiwa to suspend the approval of Prince Richard's appointment and allow the court to determine the dispute in line with the principle of separation of powers.
They warned that failure to reverse the approval would leave them with no option but to commence contempt proceedings against the governor and any officials involved, insisting that respect for judicial orders remains fundamental to the rule of law.
0 Comments