Ibadan, Oct. 27, 2025 (NAN) The Falade and Adetunji families of Iroko in Akinyele Local Government Area in Oyo State, have filed a suit before an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan seeking formal recognition as ruling houses to the stool of Oniroko of Iroko.
The claimants, Mr Taiwo Popoola, Dr John Adedokun and Mr Okunola Falana, had instituted the suit on behalf of the two ruling houses over recongnition of Opeola family as the only ruling house entitle to the stool of Oniroko.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the claimants instituted the suit against Saka Fansanya of Opeola ruling house, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin; Akinyele Local Government and Governor of Oyo State.
The claimants through their counsel, Mr Michael Lana, had informed the court that the Appeal Court judgment had recognised the rotation of Oniroko chieftaincy stool among three ruling houses, which are Opeola, Falade and Adetunji.
Lana had informed the court that immediate past Oniroko of Iroko, Oba Ismail Olasunkanmi,who died on May 30, 2025 was from Opeola ruling house.
He urged the court to declare as unlawful the insistence of Opeola ruling house to still produce the next Oniroko of Iroko and believing it was their permanent right to the exclusion of other two ruling houses.
Lana had informed the court that the respondents based their position on the 1976 gazette which had been nullified by the court.
The claimant’s counsel told the court that it was the turn of Falade and Adetunji ruling houses to produce the next Oniroko of Iroko after the death of Oba Ismail Olasunkanmi from Opeola ruling house.
Lana urged the court to stop Opeola ruling house from producing the next Oniroko of Iroko.
At the resume hearing of the suit on Monday, Lana informed the court that the further hearing on the suit could not proceed due to the death of second defendant, Olubadan of Ibadanland, the late Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.
Lana told the court that he needed to amend his processes by substituting Olakulehin’s name with the name of the present Olubadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, and subsequently requested for an adjournment.
The fourth defendant’s Counsel, Mrs H.I. Adeleke, a state counsel, who represented the Governor of Oyo State did not oppose the application for adjournment.
The counsel to the first and third defendant that is Fansanya and Akinyele local government were not present in court.
Justice G.A. Opayinka adjourned the case till Dec. 1 for further hearing and issued hearing notices on the first and third defendants.(NAN)
