Oyo Princes Launch Court Battle to Preserve Alaafin’s Supremacy

A group of princes from Oyo town has approached the courts in a bid to protect and preserve the traditional supremacy of the Alaafin of Oyo, describing recent actions by the monarch as a threat to the age-long authority of the revered stool.

The princes, under the aegis of concerned members of the Alaafin royal lineage, have filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction restraining the Alaafin from taking steps they allege undermine the historical and constitutional status of the Oyo monarchy.

According to court documents obtained on Monday, the plaintiffs argued that certain decisions and public pronouncements attributed to the monarch are inconsistent with established customs, traditions, and legal frameworks governing the Alaafin’s position as the paramount ruler of Oyo land.

They contended that the Alaafin’s supremacy is not only rooted in tradition but also recognised by law, adding that any action capable of diminishing that status could destabilise the traditional institution and create confusion within the Oyo traditional hierarchy.

The princes are asking the court to interpret relevant chieftaincy laws and customary practices, and to issue orders preventing any move that could erode the authority, dignity, and supremacy of the Alaafin stool.

Reacting to the development, sources close to the palace described the lawsuit as “unfortunate and unnecessary,” insisting that the Alaafin has acted within his rights and in the best interest of Oyo land.

As of the time of filing this report, no official response had been issued by the palace or the Oyo State Government on the suit.

The case has since generated widespread debate among traditional leaders, legal practitioners, and residents of Oyo, many of whom see it as a critical test of the balance between tradition, law, and modern governance in Yoruba land.

The matter has been adjourned to a later date for hearings