Obaship Tussle: Adelakun Descendants Reject Illegal Approval of Prince Adewale as Olusupare of Supare-Akoko
By Olusegun HOSEA
29th July, 2026
The alleged illegal approval of Prince Adewale Fatunsi Richard as the Olusupare of Supare-Akoko by the Ondo State Government has been rejected by the Animasahun Solomon Adelakun family. In a press statement released by its solicitor, Tolu Babaleye & Co., Solicitors to the family, the firm condemned the alleged illegal installation. He said, “The attention of our firm, TOLU BABALEYE & CO., Solicitors to Prince Solomon Animasahun, one of the bona fide contenders to the stool of Olusupare of Supare-Akoko, has been drawn to the purported ratification of Prince Adewale Fatunsi Richard as the new Olusupare of Supare-Akoko by the Ondo State Executive Council at its meeting held on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, and presided over by the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.”
Babaleye, who condemned the alleged imposition of Prince Adewale Fatunsi as the new Olusupare of Supare-Akoko, said the move constitutes a grave disrespect to the Judiciary. In his words, “We condemn this approval in the strongest possible terms as it is patently illegal, constitutes a grave disrespect to the Judiciary, and amounts to a deliberate undermining of the rule of law in Ondo State.”
According to him, the subject matter is still pending before the court and the government should wait for the final judgment before taking any action. He explained that, “It is elementary that the subject matter of this chieftaincy stool is lis pendens (pending before a court of competent jurisdiction). There is currently a substantive suit pending before the Ondo State High Court, Oka Division, Suit No. HKA/32/2024 between Prince Animasahun Solomon Adelakun v. Fasusi Richard Adewale and 13 others.”
He said, “We wish to state unequivocally that this suit has reached an advanced stage. Both parties have called their witnesses, and the case has been closed on both sides. The matter has now been adjourned to September 23, 2026, for final written addresses, after which the court will deliver its judgment.”
He said there is a pending interlocutory injunction restraining the Ondo State Government from taking any step to approve the said appointment pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit. “This injunction is subsisting, valid, and binding on all parties, including the Ondo State Government.”
Babaleye explained that the Ondo State Government had carried out a flagrant disobedience of a court order. He said, “Despite the existence of this subsisting court order, the Ondo State Government, at its State Executive Council meeting of July 28, 2026, went ahead to ratify the appointment of Prince Adewale Fatunsi Richard. This action is not only illegal but constitutes a flagrant disobedience of a subsisting court order and a reckless affront to the sanctity of the Judiciary.”
The legal luminary was of the opinion that cases of disobedience of court orders have now become rampant in the state and sought to know who is misleading the government into taking such actions in disregard of court orders. “Who is misleading the Governor of Ondo State into taking such reckless steps that undermine the rule of law? It is particularly disheartening that this breach is occurring in a state where the Attorney General is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Where do we place the age-long doctrine of lis pendens in our legal system when the government itself treats pending suits with such levity?”
He urged the government to respect the decision of the court for the sake of integrity. “The question that begs for an answer is: Why does this pattern of disobedience to court orders keep recurring in Ondo State? Why is the sanctity of court orders not being respected by the very government that swore to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”
In his statement, Babaleye said the Ondo State Government was fully represented in court through its counsel when the matter came up before the judge. “It is on record that the Ondo State Government was present in court and was represented by counsel at the last adjourned date. Prince Fadulu was also represented by Osho, SAN. All parties closed their case on that day, fully aware that the matter is at its concluding stage.”
He said by taking this decision, the Ondo State Government had resorted to self-help, overreached the court, and taken a decision capable of rendering the proceedings before the court nugatory. “This is a classic case of judicial rascality by the Executive Arm of Government.”
Babaleye said, “We, therefore, call on the Ondo State Government to immediately put on hold the so-called appointment/approval of Prince Adewale Fatunsi Richard as the Olusupare of Supare-Akoko to allow the rule of law to prevail in Ondo State.”
He explained that the Governor and his team should allow the court to perform its constitutional role under the doctrine of Separation of Powers, which is a fundamental pillar of Nigeria’s democracy. The Ondo State Government, he said, should keep the appointment/approval in abeyance until the court delivers its judgment, which is expected before the end of 2026.
In his final statement, Babaleye said, “This incessant breach of court orders in chieftaincy tussles in Ondo State is becoming too frequent and alarming. It is affecting the peace and stability of the state. We urge the Governor and his team to respect the Judiciary and allow the rule of law to take its full course.”
He concluded by saying, “We warn that should the government fail to reverse this alleged illegal approval, we shall have no choice but to initiate contempt proceedings against the Governor and all officials involved in this alleged illegality.”
