Aree Stool: Oyelakin Warned Against Impunity, Flouting Court Judgment

Prince Muritala Oyelakin and stakeholders in Iree, a major town located in Boripe Local Government in Osun State have been warned against disregarding a valid judgment of the court over Aree of Iree stool.

Recall that Justice M. O. Awe of an Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo, in a judgment delivered over the illegal emergence of Prince Muritala Oyelakin, unequivocally declared that the stool of Aree remains vacant and no one should parade himself as the Aree of Iree.

Justice Awe, while delivering the judgment on May 14, 2024, had ordered the Osun State Governor against installing Oyelakin and releasing staff of authority of the town to him.

The court had also barred Oyelakin from parading himself as the Aree until the substantive matter presently in court is done with.

Following the order, the state governor had shelved plans of installing Oyelakin till date.

However, in defiance to the judgment, it was alleged that Oyelakin had been parading himself as the traditional ruler of the town and appointing chiefs.

Meanwhile, reacting to some remarks by some stakeholders who were alluding that there is someone presently occupying the exalted throne of Aree, a Prince from Olubonku ruling House of Iree, Prince Ali Afolabi, warned Oyelakin against flouting the orders of the court.

Afolabi said it would be embarrassing for the respected town of Iree if stakeholders continue to flagrantly disregard valid pronouncements of courts even when the state government who are joined in the case and ordered not to install Oyelakin had retrained itself by not presenting staff of office to him.

The Prince, in a statement issued on Friday, harped on the need for sons and daughters of Iree to respect the rule of law and ensure that all they do are not clashing with the dictates of subsisting valid court judgments.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal has slated the matter numbered No:CA/AK/55/2026 for full hearing on December 3, 2026.

The suit, holding in Akure is between Prince Ali Afolabi as the Claimant/Appellant and the Governor of Osun State, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Osun, Boripe North Local Council Development Area, Chief Sobolaje Alao (The Osolo of IreeLand), Chief Salui Atoyebi (The Aogun of IreeLand), Chief James Adebisi Bankole (The Jagun of IreeLand) and Prince Muritala Oyelakin as the Appellants/Respondents.

Afolabi is seeking for an order of the appelate court to declare the selection or election of Oyelakin as null and void because it was participated by non-kingmakers as against the native law and custom of Iree among other reliefs.