SAlaafin stool: Absence of judge stalls hearing in suit filed by nine royal families

The hearing in the lawsuit to include nine royal families in the choice of the next Alaafin of Oyo was delayed on Thursday due to the absence of the presiding judge.

The transfer of Oba Lamidi Atanda Olayiwola Adeyemi, who went to be with his ancestors in April 2022 at the age of 83, left the Alaafin stool vacant.

Nine of the eleven royal houses of the Abiodun Atiba dynasty have demanded that their kinsmen be included in the selection process, even though the 46th Alaafin of Oyo selection process has already begun.

The nine families contended that it was improper to let Alowolodu and Agunloye be the only two families that could produce Oyo’s Alaafin.

Three of the nine families—known as the Atiba 9—had sued to have their names included in the selection process at the Oyo State High Court in Oyo Town.

In order to incorporate the nine royal families, they are asking for an injunction compelling the state government to review the Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy Declaration. The State Executive Council Resolution from 1976, which declared the declaration to be faulty for excluding the nine families, serves as the foundation for their claim.

In order to invalidate the proclamation and make it unfit for the purpose of choosing a new Alaafin, the families are requesting an order.

However, the hearing on Thursday was delayed because the presiding judge was not present.

The court then set a new hearing date of November 28.