Court Declares Macgregor’s Claim to Olu of Ilawo Throne Invalid
The Ogun State High Court has declared the installation of Alexander Macgregor as the Olu of Ilawo illegal, following a ruling delivered on Tuesday by Justice Olatokunbo Majekodunmi.
The court ordered Macgregor to cease presenting himself as the Olu of Orile Ilawo, pending the resolution of the ongoing legal challenge to the processes that led to his nomination. The ruling came in response to a suit filed by the Ogunsanya-Ariku Royal Family of Ilawo, who sought to halt the installation and declare Macgregor’s claim to the throne invalid.
Justice Majekodunmi criticized the government’s decision to install Macgregor despite the ongoing legal proceedings, describing it as an act of impunity and a disregard for the judiciary. The judge emphasized that when a case is before the court, all parties must refrain from actions that could undermine the integrity of the legal process.
As part of the ruling, the court issued a mandatory injunction, restraining Macgregor from parading himself as the Olu of Ilawo. Additionally, the court ordered the withdrawal of all instruments and staff of office that had been conferred upon him by the government.
The Ogunsanya-Ariku family approached the court after alleging that the Ilawo council of chiefs had replaced duly approved warrant chiefs with unfamiliar names in the process of nominating a candidate for the throne following the death of the former king on December 24, 2021.
Reacting to the ruling, Dr. David Ogunsanya, Secretary to the Aiku and Ogunsanya dynasty, expressed his gratitude to the judiciary for upholding justice. He also warned that members of the public who continue to refer to Macgregor as the Olu of Ilawo do so at their own risk.
Ogunsanya stated, “The government, particularly Mr. Olusegun Macgregor, has remained adamant and seems uncautionable. The stakeholders in all the villages of Orile Ilawo, led by the Ogunsanya-Ariku family, have resorted to litigation in a peaceful manner, avoiding violence that could result in communal clashes. Any actions contrary to this court ruling would amount to contempt of court, and we will report such to the appropriate authorities.”
He added that individuals who continue to support Macgregor as the Olu of Ilawo are doing so at their own peril.
