In a dramatic turn of events, the Kingmakers and members of the Oyomesi-in-Council have petitioned the Federal High Court, alleging a plot by Governor Seyi Makinde to unlawfully arrest and detain them using state security forces.
The crisis stems from an ongoing legal battle between the kingmakers and the Oyo State Government. Last month, the traditional rulers sued Governor Makinde, accusing him of weaponizing the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency to harass, intimidate, and threaten them with arrests. They sought the court’s intervention to safeguard their fundamental human rights and halt what they described as a political witch hunt.
However, in a new twist, the kingmakers claim that despite their case still being before the court, security operatives attempted to unlawfully apprehend them. In a letter addressed to the court through their legal counsel, Kunle Sobaloju (SAN), three prominent kingmakers—Yusuf Akinade (Basorun of Oyo), Wakeel Akindele (Lagunna of Oyo), and Hamzat Yusuf (Akinniku of Oyo)—expressed shock over the latest development.
According to the petition, on February 13, 2025, law enforcement agents stormed Oyo town in a vehicle with registration number 01A-289 OY, allegedly acting on the Governor’s orders. The operatives, including plainclothes policemen, reportedly besieged the homes of the kingmakers in an aggressive bid to arrest them.
When they did not find our clients at home, they laid siege to their residences until midnight, clearly demonstrating their intent to arrest, detain, intimidate, harass, and persecute them. A picture of the bus used in this operation is attached herewith,” the letter stated.
The legal counsel further condemned the brazen disregard for judicial authority, arguing that once a dispute is before a court of law, neither party has the right to resort to self-help.
“The essence of this letter is to call the attention of this Honourable Court to the ongoing threat of arrest, unlawful detention, and unjust prosecution of our clients by the aforementioned agencies. This continued harassment is a flagrant disregard for the authority of the court and a serious interference with due process,” the statement read.
Additionally, the timing of these aggressive actions—immediately after the service of court documents—has raised grave concerns among the kingmakers and their legal team. They argue that the Governor’s actions appear to be a calculated move to intimidate them and derail the legal process.
The unfolding power struggle between the Oyo monarchy and the state government has sent shockwaves through the political and traditional institutions of Oyo State. Observers are now keenly watching to see how the judiciary will respond to these weighty allegations of executive overreach and defiance of the rule of law.
PIONEER NEWS 