Ogun State High Court has reversed the installation of Alexander Macgregor as the Olu of Orile Ilawo, declaring the process illegal.
The judge, Justice Olatokunbo Majekodunmi in her ruling on Tuesday, ordered Macgregor to stop parading himself as the Olu of Orile Ilawo monarch, in Ogun State pending the determination of the suit against the processes that led to his nomination.
The court’s decision was in response to a suit filed by Ogunsanya- Ariku Royal Family of Ilawo, who had prayed the court to stop the installation and declare Macgregor’s claim to the throne invalid.
Delivering the ruling, the judge condemned the government’s action in proceeding with the installation of Macgregor despite pending court cases, describing it as an act of impunity and disregard for the court.
Justice Majekodunmi emphasized that once a case is before the court, all parties are under legal duty not to take any action that could undermine the integrity of the court.
The court, therefore, granted an order of mandatory injunction restraining Macgregor from parading himself as the Olu of Ilawo and restoring the Olu Of Orile Ilawo stool to the way it was when all parties had submitted before the court.
The judge also ordered the withdrawal of all instruments and staff of office and other symbols of authority that had been bestowed on Macgregor by the government.
The Ogunsanya- Ariku family had approached the court after warrant chiefs approved by Ilawo tradition council of chiefs were allegedly shortchanged and substituted with strange name for the purpose of nomination and selection of the candidate to fill the stool of Olu of Orile Ilawo, after the death of the former king on December 24, 2021.
They had also sought to halt the installation process, challenging Macgregor’s claim to the throne.
