Court sacks Ogun monarch, Olugbenga Somade

The Ogun State High Court in Sagamu has nullified the installation of Olugbenga Somade as the Akufon of Idarika, Iperu Remo, Ogun State, declaring the process illegal.

Justice O.S. Oloyede ruled that Somade must cease to present himself as the Akufon of Idarika, adding that all related documents, including the staff of office, certificate of office, and coronation ceremony for Somade, are nullified.

The court’s decision was in response to a suit filed by the head of the lgundaniyan ruling house, Pa Fasasi Ogunmuyiwa and Prince Moshood Onakoya, who prayed for the court to stop the installation and declare Somade’s claim to the throne invalid.

Delivering the ruling, the judge emphasized that both parties are to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the court process.

The judge stated that the Executive Council and the Attorney General were aware of an injunction against the defendants, stressing that their actions were a blatant disregard for the rule of law.

Justice Oloyede explained that the claimants sought to restore the order of law and set aside the defendants’ actions taken in defiance of pending court proceedings.

He said, “This application succeeds and is granted, effectively nullifying Somade’s appointment and ordering the return of all related documents.

“The essence of the claimants’ present application is to undo what the Defendants did in flagrant disrespect to due process of law. Therefore, the parties to this case have to be restored to the status quo ante bellum by setting aside all the acts of the Defendants aimed at this instant application for foisting on the Honourable Court a fiat accompli and facing the Court with a fiat accompli.

“In the final analysis, this instant Application succeeds and it is hereby granted. Accordingly, the approval of appointment, enthronement and coronation of 5th Defendant Olugbenga Somade as the Akufon of Idarika are hereby set aside for having been carried out during the pendency of an application for an interlocutory injunction in this case.

Once a party is aware of a pending Court process, and whether the Court has not given a specific injunctive order, parties are bound to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the Court process.

“That an Injunction cannot be granted to restrain a completed act. However, where the party sought to be restrained deliberately proceeds with the action intended to be restrained by an order of injunction after becoming aware of the pendency of an application before a Court of competent jurisdiction as in the present case- such a party ought not to be allowed to profit from his misconduct and/or total disrespect to the court the court of law.”