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An Ondo State High Court sitting in Ore has restrained High Chief Akindele Aladenika from parading himself as the Regent of Ore and barred the Ondo State Government and its agencies from recognising him in that capacity pending the determination of a substantive suit over the community’s traditional stool. The ruling, delivered by Justice Ade Adegoroye, follows a legal challenge filed by members of the Olore-in-Council, who questioned the legality of Aladenika’s appointment after the death of the Olore of Ore, Oba Johnson Olatomide, in 2020.
The plaintiffs argued that rather than appointing a regent, the government should have commenced the process of selecting a substantive monarch. They also asked the court to nullify the nomination and approval of Aladenika, alleging that he had been presenting himself as the traditional ruler with the backing of government officials. The defendants in the suit include the Ondo State Governor, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, and another party connected to the dispute.
In his ruling, Justice Adegoroye held that there was already a pending court case and an existing injunction relating to the Ore regency, warning that installing another regent while the matter remained before the court could amount to contempt. The judge therefore ordered that High Chief Akindele Aladenika must stop parading himself as regent and directed the state government, its agencies and security authorities to withhold official recognition until the substantive case is finally resolved.
