The Oyomesi faction led by High Chief Yusuf Layinka Akinade, the Basorun of Oyo, failed to convince an Oyo State high court sitting in the ancient town to order the parties involved to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of their suit against Governor Seyi Makinde on Thursday.

Justice Ladiran Akintola declined the request by the counsel to the faction of kingmakers at the commencement of the hearing of a fresh suit they filed against Makinde, the Oyo State Attorney General and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Akinade, High Chief Wakeel Oyedepo, High Chief Amusa Yusuf, Chief Wahab Oyetunji and Chief Gbadebo Mufutau instituted this fresh suit, marked HOY/41/2023, as claimants.

READ ALSO: Lukman Gbadegesin Unqualified to Be Alaafin, Says Brother

In the course of this fresh suit, Kazeem Sobaloju (SAN), counsel to the claimants, sought to secure an order for the parties to maintain the status quo again in spite of the notice of the preliminary objection filed by the defence counsel.

The suit from the Oyomesi wants the court to order Governor Makinde, the Oyo State Attorney General and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to desist from interfering with the Alaafin selection process already determined by the Oyomesi (a process the state government has marked as defective).

Justice Akintola declined and adjourned the hearing till December 14.

Sobaloju had unsuccessfully sought to get the same declaration from the High Court at the hearing of an earlier suit, marked HOY/38/2023, on October 31.

Justice Akintola noted that the defendants should be given the opportunity to be joined in the suit with the filing of a counter-affidavit. The judge added that it was after this that he would be able to rule on the status quo.

READ MORE: JUST IN: Court Throws Out Oyo Kingmakers’ Suit Against Makinde

That hearing was adjourned until November 2, but at the resumed hearing on November 2, Sobaloju announced the withdrawal of the suit and the filing of a fresh suit. Justice Akintola therefore struck out the suit and fixed November 9 for the commencement of hearing in the new suit.

Sobaloju reiterated he had two pending applications relevant to the new suit filed on November 1. He also submitted that he had filed a counter affidavit to the defendants’ notice of a preliminary objection.

Barrister L.A. Abiola, counsel to the defendants and Director of Civil Litigation and Advisory Council at the Ministry of Justice, assured the court of his preparedness to move the application for his notice of preliminary objection.

After considering the submissions from both counsels, Justice Akintola adjourned the hearing on the notice of the preliminary objection filed by the defendants to December 14.

READ ALSO: Real Reasons Oyo Gov’t Rejected the Candidate of Atiku, Oyomesi for Alaafin

Akinade had tried to mislead the media with disinformation on the Alaafin selection process.

FIJ received reliable information that the Alaafin nomination did not follow due process, and a section of the Oyomesi owned up to that fact in September. Makinde also stated he received reports about some chiefs receiving bribes from an Alaafin candidate.

Akinade and two other members of the Oyomesi went into hiding because of an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on bribery accusations on October 17.

They were yet to honour the EFCC’s invitation at press time.