The Akure Division of the Court of Appeal has admitted new evidence in the ongoing legal battle over the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo chieftaincy stool in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The crisis began after Justice Ademola Enikuomehin of the Ondo State High Court, in a judgment delivered on April 13, 2023, nullified the appointment of Oba Babajide Oluwole as the traditional ruler of Oke-Igbo. The decision followed a suit instituted by two princes of the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House, Prince Rufus Adekanye and Prince Temitope Adeoye, who argued that Oluwole was not a bona fide member of their ruling house, which they claim was next in line to produce the new monarch.
At the weekend’s hearing, counsel for the appellants, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, sought and obtained leave of the court to amend the notice of appeal, relying on a registered chieftaincy declaration as fresh evidence. Ojo also applied for an injunction to halt further steps toward the appointment of a new Olu-Oke and urged the court to vacate any actions already taken in that direction.
However, Adeola Yusuf, representing the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, SAN, told the court she had just been briefed on the matter and needed more time to familiarize herself with the case files.
On his part, Chief Sola Ebiseni, counsel for the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House, opposed the move to introduce fresh evidence, arguing that it was inadmissible since the document being relied on by the appellants was made in 2020—two years after the High Court case had ended in 2018. He urged the court to disregard what he called a delay tactic by the appellants, especially as Oba Oluwole, whose appointment was nullified, died on April 30, 2025, at the age of 94.
The panel of justices—Omoleye, Shagari, and Obiorah—noted the matter’s significance to public interest and the delay in prosecuting the appeal. The court consequently admitted the amended notice of appeal and directed the appellants to argue the new evidence in their revised brief.
However, the court declined to hear the motion for an injunction, stating that it would be held “in abeyance,” and urged all parties to refrain from actions that could jeopardize the peace in Oke-Igbo. The matter was adjourned to October 20 for further hearing.