The Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta on Tuesday reversed the installation of Alexander Macgregor as the Olu of Ilawo, declaring the process illegal.
The judge, Justice Olatokunbo Majekodunmi in her ruling, ordered Macgregor to stop parading himself as the Olu of Orile Ilawo monarch, in Ogun State pending the determination of the suit against the processes that led to his nomination.
The court’s decision was in response to a suit filed by Ogunsanya- Ariku Royal Family of Ilawo, who had prayed the court to stop the installation and declare Macgregor’s claim to the throne invalid.
The judge in her ruling, condemned the government’s action in proceeding with the installation of Macgregor despite pending court cases, describing it as an act of impunity and disregard for the court.
Justice Majekodunmi emphasised that once a case is before the court, all parties are under a legal duty not to take any action that could undermine the integrity of the court.
The court, therefore, granted an order of mandatory injunction restraining Macgregor from parading himself as the Olu of Ilawo and restoring the Olu Of Orile Ilawo stool to the way it was when all parties had submitted before the court.
The judge also ordered the withdrawal of all instrument and staff of office and other symbols of authority that had been bestowed on Macgregor by the government.
She stated, “It is an impunity and disregard to this court for the defendant to go ahead with the installation of the 7th defendant (Macgregor) despite pending court case
“Immediately a case is ongoing, people are under legal duty not to go ahead with anything pending the determination of the suit. Doing such is tantamount in undermining the integrity of the court.
“The court hereby order the withdrawal of staff of office and other things that make Macgregor as Olu of Ilawo pending the determination of the suit.
“The 7th defendant should also refrain from parading himself as Olu of Ilawo.”
The Ogunsanya- Ariku family had approached the court after warrant chiefs approved by Ilawo tradition council of chiefs were allegedly shortchanged and substituted with strange name for the purpose of nomination and selection of the candidate to fill the stool of Olu of Orile Ilawo, after the death of the former king on December 24, 2021.
They had also sought to halt the installation process, challenging Macgregor’s claim to the throne.
Reacting to the ruling, the Secretary to the Aiku and Ogunsanya dynasty, Dr David Ogunsanya commended the judiciary for upholding justice.
He added, “Since we are not oblivion of the fact that you have been reporting the matter and following religiously, we felt it deem to invite the distinguished members of the press for a briefing on the latest development hoping you would accordingly report the situation in your various media spaces being the flashlights of our society.
“In cognizance of the reality of the fact that government and particularly Mr Olusegun Macgregor remained adamant and seem uncautionable, the stakeholders of all the villages in Orile Ilawo headed by Ogunsanya – Ariku family resorted to litigation as peace loving people that would not want to adopt violence that could result to communal clashes.
“Today, we are elated to brief the distinguished members of the press that the installation of Mr Olusegun Macgregor has been nullified and discarded by a competent court of law with an instruction that he should henceforth desist from parading himself as the Olu of Orile Ilawo.
“Going forward, any action contrary to this court ruling would by our understanding of its dictates amount to contempt of the court which of course shall be reported to the appropriate quarters for every action
“Furthermore, members of the public who still patronize Mr Olusegun Macgregor and his cohorts as Olu of Orile Ilawo is doing so at his her own peril.”
