The Alaafin of Oyo has approached the Supreme Court to restrain the Oyo State Government from recognising or elevating the Baale Ago-Oja chieftaincy stool, warning that any further move to proceed with the planned coronation of Alhaji Ganiyu Busari as Oloja of Ago-Oja would constitute contempt of court.

In a motion on notice dated January 30, 2026, and filed in Appeal No. SC/404/2018, the Alaafin is seeking interlocutory and mandatory injunctions against the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, and the state’s Attorney-General, pending the final determination of an ongoing appeal.

According to the motion, the chieftaincy stool of Baale Ago-Oja was declared non-existent by the Oyo State High Court in 2007, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, in 2017.

“Any attempt to revive, recognise or elevate a chieftaincy stool already declared non-existent by courts of competent jurisdiction amounts to a disregard of subsisting judgments,” the Alaafin’s counsel, Adeola Omotunde (SAN), argued.

The applicant is specifically asking the apex court to restrain the respondents from proceeding with the planned installation of Busari on February 13, 2026, at Olivet High School, Oyo, or any other location.

The motion also seeks to set aside Oyo State Gazette No. 01, Vol. 50 of January 17, 2025, “in so far as it relates to the elevation of the Baale Ago-Oja chieftaincy.”

The Alaafin wants the Supreme Court to halt any further action that would “create, re-create, recognise, or elevate” the stool, and restrain the government from “dealing with, presenting or recognising” Busari in any official capacity.

In a separate move, Omotunde’s chambers wrote to Governor Makinde on February 8, 2026, cautioning that going ahead with Busari’s coronation would constitute an illegality and contempt of court.

The letter reminded the governor that the chieftaincy had been nullified by Justice S. Olu Akinola in Suit No. HOY/46/2006, which ruled that the title “Baale of Ago-Oja” does not exist in Atiba Local Government Area and declared Busari’s prior approval as “null and void.”

Though Busari appealed the ruling, the appellate court dismissed it in 2017. His further appeal to the Supreme Court, filed in 2018, has allegedly stalled due to failure to file a brief of argument.

Describing the state’s recent actions as unconstitutional, the Alaafin’s lawyers said, “It is contrary to law, logic and common sense for a chieftaincy declared non-existent by a court of competent jurisdiction to be resuscitated by executive action.”

They stressed that the state government risks being viewed as lawless if it proceeds with the coronation, noting, “You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand.”

“We do not want to embark on any step capable of ridiculing or embarrassing the Oyo State Government,” the letter added, urging the governor to step back from the plan.

The Supreme Court has not yet fixed a date to hear the appeal and accompanying motion.