Following the formal announcement by the kingmakers in Ile-Ife requesting nomination of candidates from the Giesi Ruling House for the selection process of the new Ooni of Ife, the Lafogido Ruling House has been granted injunction by an Osogbo High Court of Justice.
The injunction, which was granted yesterday afternoon by Justice A. A. Aderibigbe is sequel to a suit filed by the Lafogido ruling house seeking the restraining order against the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; the Obalufe of Ife, Oba Solomon Omisakin and the Lowa of Ile-Ife, Chief Joseph Ijaduola, pending the determination of the matter before the court.
The matter, with suit number, HOS/16/2015, was filed on behalf of the Lafogido family by Sooko Bunmi Adegoke, Prince Marcus Adebola Akinmoyero as plaintiffs and Governor Aregbesola, Omisakin and Ijaduola as defendants.
The injunction, a copy of which was made available to our newspaper, reads in part; "An order of interim injunction is granted restraining the defendants from accepting nomination, selecting candidates or taking any steps whatsoever in the process of selecting the new Ooni of Ife to fill the vacant stool pending the determination of the motion on notice dated September 15, 2015. Returns date shall be Thursday, September 23, 2015."
It would be recalled that the kingmakers had on Tuesday addressed a briefing announcing the resolution of the 16-member kingmakers' council, conceding the nomination of candidates to the Giesi Royal House, insisting that the 1980 declaration on the selection of the Ooni of Ife as gazetted by the old Oyo State remains valid.
According to Chief Omisakin, the other three ruling houses of Ogboru, Osinkola and Lafogido should wait for their turn.
However, the Lafogido Ruling House has criticized the decision, saying the declaration does not represent the true status of Ile-Ife royal system and that it should be reviewed before appointing the new Ooni of Ife.
