Ogun monarch drags Abiodun, others to court over suspension

The Eselu of Iselu Kingdom in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Ebenezer Akinyemi, has approached the Federal High Court in Abeokuta to challenge his suspension by the Ogun State Government, alleging that the action was taken without giving him an opportunity to defend himself.

The monarch, in a suit marked FHC/AB/FHR/148/26, is seeking an interim injunction restraining Governor Dapo Abiodun and other respondents from enforcing the suspension letter dated October 20, 2026, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

Other respondents in the suit are the Ogun State Attorney-General, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Nigeria Police Force and the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State.

In a motion ex parte dated October 23, 2026, and filed before the Federal High Court, Abeokuta Judicial Division, the monarch is asking the court to restrain the respondents, their agents, servants and officers from implementing or giving effect to the suspension letter.

He is also seeking an order preventing the respondents from compelling him to vacate the Eselu Palace, stopping him from parading himself as the Eselu of Iselu Kingdom or preventing him from wearing his crown and other traditional royal insignia.

The ex parte motion, filed by Dele Fadesere, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent on Wednesday, is seeking, “An order of interim injunction restraining the Respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, servants, privies, officers or howsoever called, from implementing, enforcing, executing or giving any effect whatsoever to the letter of suspension dated 20th Day of October 2026 issued against the Applicant, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive Originating Summons in this suit.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the Respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, servants, privies, officers or howsoever called, from: compelling or forcing the Applicant to vacate or stay away from the Palace of Eselu; preventing the Applicant from parading or acknowledging himself as the Eselu of Iselu Kingdom; preventing the Applicant from wearing or using any crown, ileke, beaded staff, irukere or any other paraphernalia of an Oba.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from harassing, intimidating, arresting, detaining or otherwise interfering with the Applicant in the exercise of his rights and functions as the Eselu of Iselu Kingdom; pending the hearing and determination of substantive Originating Summons in this suit.

“An order directing the 4th Respondent and all officers under his command to refrain from taking any step in furtherance of the enforcement of the suspension letter dated 20th Day of October 2026 against the Applicant pending the determination of this application and the substantive suit”.

In the 12-paragraph affidavit supporting the application, Oba Akinyemi stated that he received a letter dated October 20, 2026, from the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, suspending him as the Eselu of Iselu Kingdom with immediate effect.

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According to the monarch, the letter directed him to immediately vacate the palace, refrain from presenting himself as the Eselu and stop wearing or using any royal paraphernalia.

He, however, faulted the procedure leading to the suspension, alleging that he was neither given prior notice of the action nor afforded an opportunity to respond to the allegations against him.

In paragraph six of his affidavit, the monarch stated: “That I was never given any prior notice or opportunity to be heard before the suspension was imposed on the allegation alleged.”

Oba Akinyemi argued that the suspension without a hearing raised serious constitutional questions, particularly concerning his right to fair hearing under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

Moving the motion on Wednesday, the monarch’s solicitor, Fadesere, who appeared alongside two other lawyers, urged the court to grant the interim injunction to protect the monarch’s fundamental right to fair hearing and check what he described as executive recklessness and lawlessness.

Justice Agatha Okeke has fixed November 11, 2026, for ruling on the application.

The government had, in a statement on October 20, suspended Oba Akinyemi with immediate effect over alleged partisan political activities.

The suspension, according to a statement made available to journalists by Mr Kayode Akinmade, the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Dapo Abiodun, was reportedly approved by the State Executive Council pursuant to Section 52(1) of the Ogun State Obas and Chiefs Law, 2021, pending a detailed investigation into the allegations against the monarch.

The government reportedly acted following several complaints concerning the traditional ruler’s conduct, particularly his alleged involvement in overtly partisan political activities, some of which were reportedly publicised by him.