An Ondo State High Court sitting in Ore has restrained High Chief Akindele Aladenika from presenting himself as the Regent of Ore Community pending the determination of a substantive suit challenging his appointment.
Justice Ade Adegoroye, in a ruling made available on Sunday, also ordered the Ondo State Government, its agencies and law enforcement authorities to suspend recognition of Aladenika as regent until the court resolves the dispute over the traditional stool.
The Olore of Ore stool became vacant following the death of Oba Johnson Olatomide in 2020.
Although the state government subsequently approved Aladenika’s appointment as regent, the decision was opposed by members of the Olore-in-Council, who insisted that a substantive monarch, rather than a regent, should be installed.
The disagreement later escalated into a legal battle after allegations emerged that Aladenika had been acting as the traditional ruler of the community with the backing of the state government.
Four members of the Olore-in-Council—High Chief Monday Sawoju, High Chief Esther, Chief Tope Ijiniga and Chief Fakeye Sawoju—instituted the suit, seeking an interlocutory injunction to prevent the government and security agencies from recognising Aladenika as regent pending the conclusion of the case.
The claimants also asked the court to nullify the nomination, approval and every process leading to Aladenika’s appointment until an earlier related case before the court is determined.
In his ruling, Justice Adegoroye held that an existing court order relating to the previous regency remained in force and had not been vacated, making the installation of another regent while the matter was still before the court improper.
The judge warned that appointing or recognising another regent while the earlier case remained pending could amount to contempt of court and undermine the judicial process.
Consequently, the court granted the application in part, restraining the first to fourth defendants, as well as all law enforcement agencies, from recognising High Chief Akindele Aladenika as Regent of Ore until the substantive suit is concluded.
The court also directed Aladenika to stop parading himself as the Regent of Ore pending the final determination of the case.