The Oyomesi, the revered kingmakers of Oyo, have officially filed a petition with the Federal High Court, seeking urgent judicial intervention against what they describe as an unlawful attempt to arrest and detain them on the alleged orders of Governor Seyi Makinde. The Oyomesi, who play a crucial role in the traditional leadership structure of Oyo, are raising concerns over what they perceive to be politically motivated intimidation orchestrated by the governor through law enforcement agencies.
In their petition, the Oyomesi are represented by their legal counsel, Kunle Sobaloju (SAN), a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who has strongly condemned the alleged actions of law enforcement personnel. He stated that the kingmakers had submitted a formal letter to the Federal High Court on Friday, outlining the series of events that led to their decision to seek legal protection. The letter highlights what they consider a direct violation of their constitutional rights and a blatant disregard for due process by the state government.
According to the kingmakers, law enforcement officers, allegedly acting under the directive of Governor Makinde, attempted to arrest them on Thursday, despite the fact that an ongoing legal case was already before the court. This move, they argue, is a deliberate act of intimidation meant to coerce them into submission and obstruct justice.
The petitioners in the case include Yusuf Akinade, who serves as the Basorun of Oyo and the head of the Oyomesi; Wakeel Akindele, the Lagunna of Oyo; and Hamzat Yusuf, the Akinniku of Oyo. These three senior traditional leaders have expressed deep concern over what they view as continuous harassment, stating that the governor has employed the machinery of the state to target them unjustly.
Reports indicate that this legal dispute between the Oyomesi and Governor Makinde has been ongoing for some time. Previously, the Oyomesi had taken legal action against the governor, accusing him of deploying the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) as a tool to intimidate and harass them. They allege that this state agency, which was originally established to investigate corruption cases, has instead been used as a political weapon to suppress traditional authorities who do not align with the governor’s interests.
As part of their lawsuit, the Oyomesi are now seeking full legal protection from what they term as unjust persecution. They argue that their fundamental human rights, including their right to freedom of movement and fair legal treatment, are being threatened. The kingmakers insist that they have been unfairly targeted due to their stance on certain traditional and political matters within Oyo State, and they demand an immediate cessation of these acts of intimidation.
Their legal representative, Kunle Sobaloju (SAN), provided further details in his statement, explaining the troubling sequence of events that led to their appeal for court intervention. He recounted how, on February 13, 2025, a group of plainclothes policemen, allegedly acting on the governor’s directive, stormed Oyo town in a government vehicle with registration number 01A-289 OY. Their mission, according to Sobaloju, was to arrest the Oyomesi members despite a pending court case that should have prevented such action.
He stated, “On the 13th of February, 2025, the respondents’ agents and policemen in mufti bombarded Oyo town in an Oyo State government vehicle with registration number 01A-289 OY with the intent to effect the arrest of our clients. This action was taken in complete and utter disregard of the pending application before this Honourable Court.”
Sobaloju went on to describe how the law enforcement officers, failing to locate the Oyomesi members at their homes, resorted to extreme measures by laying siege to their residences until midnight. “When they did not find them at home, they stationed themselves outside their premises till 12am, clearly demonstrating their intent to arrest, detain, intimidate, harass, and persecute them,” he explained. He further noted that photographic evidence of the government vehicle used during the operation had been attached to their petition.
He continued, “It is a well-established principle of law that when parties have submitted their dispute to the court, neither party is allowed to take the law into their own hands. The rule of law must be upheld at all times.”
Expressing strong disapproval of the actions of the state government and its agents, Sobaloju stated that the primary purpose of their letter to the Federal High Court was to call attention to what he described as an ongoing attempt to subvert justice. He insisted that the threats of arrest, unlawful detention, and politically motivated prosecution must cease immediately, as they constitute a flagrant violation of the rights of the Oyomesi members.
“The essence of this letter is to draw the court’s attention to the unlawful threat of arrest, illegal detention, and planned malicious prosecution of our clients by the aforementioned agencies. We view this continuous harassment and intimidation as an act of gross disrespect toward this Honourable Court and a direct attempt to interfere with due process,” he emphasized.
Furthermore, he highlighted that the suspicious timing of these actions, occurring immediately after the court documents were officially served, raised serious doubts about the motivations behind the government’s efforts. “The timing of these events, occurring right after the service of court documents, raises significant concerns about the true intent behind them. It appears to be a deliberate and well-calculated attempt to obstruct justice and undermine the ongoing legal proceedings before this court,” he concluded.
The Oyomesi’s legal battle with Governor Makinde continues to unfold, with tensions escalating between the traditional rulers and the state government. As they await the court’s intervention, their petition stands as a bold statement against what they perceive to be an unjustified abuse of power. The outcome of this case could have significant implications not only for the traditional leadership in Oyo but also for the broader relationship between the state government and local chieftaincies.