The Alaafin of Oyo has approached the Supreme Court, seeking to restrain Governor Seyi Makinde and the Oyo State Government from proceeding with the creation, recognition or elevation of the Baale Ago-Oja chieftaincy stool pending the determination of an appeal before the apex court.
In a motion on notice dated January 30, 2026, and filed in Appeal No. SC/404/2018, the monarch is asking the Supreme Court to grant interlocutory and mandatory injunctions against the governor and the Attorney-General of Oyo State.
The application, brought pursuant to Order 2 Rule 28(1) of the Supreme Court Rules, 2014 (as amended), and under the inherent powers of the court as provided in Section 6(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, seeks to halt all actions relating to the Baale Ago-Oja stool until the appeal is finally determined.
Specifically, the Alaafin is urging the court to restrain the state government from creating, re-creating, establishing or re-establishing the chieftaincy stool, as well as from appointing, approving or recognising Alhaji Ganiyu Busari as its holder.
He is also seeking an order to stop the government from recognising or further dealing with Busari as Baale Ago-Oja and from elevating the stool from Part III (Minor Chief) to Part II (Recognised Chief).
Additionally, the monarch is asking the apex court to restrain the planned installation or coronation of Busari as Oloja of Ago-Oja, reportedly scheduled for February 13, 2026, in Oyo.
The motion further requests the court to set aside Oyo State Gazette No. 01, Vol. 50 of January 17, 2025, insofar as it relates to the elevation of the Baale Ago-Oja chieftaincy.
Through his counsel, Adeola Omotunde (SAN), the Alaafin argued that the stool of Baale Ago-Oja had earlier been declared non-existent by the Oyo State High Court in a judgment delivered on July 31, 2007, which was subsequently affirmed by the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, on December 8, 2017.
According to the application, any move to revive or elevate the stool despite the subsisting judgments would amount to a disregard of valid court decisions and could prejudice the appeal currently before the Supreme Court.
The appeal and the accompanying motion are yet to be fixed for hearing.
Meanwhile, counsel to the Alaafin has written to Governor Makinde, warning that proceeding with the installation and coronation would amount to illegality and contempt of court.
