‎Aiyedatiwa Faces Contempt Of Court Threat Over Monarch’s Approval ‎

‎Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is facing a threat of contempt of court over his purported approval of Prince Adewale Fatunsi, as the new Olusupare of Supare-Akoko, a community in the Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state, despite a pending court case over the chieftaincy stool.

‎The threat was issued on Wednesday by Tolu Babaleye, counsel to Prince Solomon Animasahun Adelakun, one of the contenders for the traditional stool, during a press briefing with journalists in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

‎The dispute over the stool was initially taken to court after Prince Animasahun was allegedly excluded from the selection process for the new Olusupare, prompting him to challenge the process and seek legal redress.

‎Speaking on the development, Babaleye condemned the ratification of Richard’s appointment by the Ondo State Executive Council at its meeting on Tuesday, July 28, describing the action as illegal and a breach of a subsisting court order.

‎According to him, a substantive suit, marked HKA/32/2024, is pending before the Ondo State High Court, Oka Division, between Prince Animasahun Solomon Adelakun and Fasusi Richard Adewale and 13 others.

‎The lawyer said the case had reached an advanced stage, noting that both parties had called their witnesses and closed their respective cases.

‎He stated that the matter had been adjourned until September 23, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses, after which the court is expected to deliver its judgment.

‎The lawyer further claimed that an interlocutory injunction restraining the Ondo State Government from taking any step to approve the appointment remains subsisting pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

‎“Despite the existence of this subsisting court order, the Ondo State Government, at its State Executive Council meeting of July 28, 2026, went ahead to ratify the appointment of Prince Adewale Fatunsi Richard,” he said.

‎Babaleye described the alleged action as “a flagrant disobedience to a subsisting court order and a reckless affront to the sanctity of the Judiciary.”

‎He also alleged that the state government was represented by counsel at the last adjourned date and was therefore aware that the case had reached its concluding stage.

‎He argued that the approval amounted to self-help and could render the proceedings before the court nugatory, urging the government to respect the principle of separation of powers and allow the court to determine the dispute.

‎Babaleye called on Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and his administration to immediately put the approval on hold until the court delivers its judgment, which they said is expected before the end of the year.

‎He said the alleged recurring breach of court orders in chieftaincy disputes in the state was becoming “too loud and alarming,” warning that such actions could affect peace and stability in Ondo State.

‎He warned that if the government failed to reverse the approval, it would have no option but to initiate contempt proceedings against the governor and all officials allegedly involved in what it described as the illegality.