Posted by Chinenye on Wed 04th Nov, 2026 - tori.ng
A traditional ruler in Ogun State is fighting to keep his throne after the state government suspended him over alleged political activities.
(Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun. Photo by ICIR Nigeria)
The Eselu of Iselu Kingdom in Yewa North Local Government Area, Oba Ebenezer Akinyemi, has gone to the Federal High Court in Abeokuta to fight his suspension by the Ogun State Government.
He says he was suspended without being given a chance to defend himself.
In a suit numbered FHC/AB/FHR/148/26, he is asking the court for an interim injunction to stop Governor Dapo Abiodun and others from enforcing the suspension letter dated October 20, 2026.
The injunction would stay in place until the main case is decided.
Other respondents include the state Attorney-General, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Nigeria Police Force and the state Police Commissioner.
The monarch also wants the court to stop officials from forcing him out of the Eselu Palace, from stopping him from using the title of Eselu, and from taking away his crown and other royal regalia.
He further asked the court to bar anyone from harassing or arresting him while he carries out his duties as the traditional ruler.
His lawyer, Dele Fadesere, filed the motion ex parte, and a copy was made available to a reporter on Wednesday.
In a sworn statement backing the application, Oba Akinyemi said he received a letter from the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on October 20, suspending him with immediate effect.
The letter reportedly told him to leave the palace, stop calling himself the Eselu and stop using royal regalia.
He said he was never told in advance about the suspension and was never given a chance to respond to the allegations against him.
He argued that this goes against his right to a fair hearing under the 1999 Constitution.
Fadesere asked the court to grant the injunction to protect that right and to check what he called executive recklessness.
Justice Agatha Okeke has fixed November 11, 2026, for her ruling on the application.
The state government announced the suspension on October 20, saying it was over alleged partisan political activities.
A statement from Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Media to Governor Abiodun, said the State Executive Council approved the suspension under Section 52(1) of the Ogun State Obas and Chiefs Law, 2021, pending a full investigation.
The government said it acted after several complaints about the monarch's conduct, including political activity he reportedly made public himself.