Three ruling houses in Iwo, Osun State, have filed a suit at the Osun State High Court seeking the removal of the Oluwo of Iwo Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi over allegations relating to the exhumation of remains of past traditional rulers from the palace.
The suit, marked HoS/56/2026, was filed by Olalekan Lamuye, Adedoja Osunwo, Alade Ismaila, Ganiyu Saheed, Kosiru Kolawole and Wasiu Abolusodun on behalf of the Ogunmakinde Ande, Adegunodo and Alausa ruling houses.
Joined as defendants are the Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Secretary of Iwo Local Government, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Inspector-General of Police and the Director of the National Cyber Crime Centre.
In court documents filed through counsel Soji Oyetayo, the claimants asked the court for 13 reliefs, including a declaration that Oba Akanbi is not qualified to continue to occupy the throne.
They also asked for an order directing him to vacate the throne and a declaration that the alleged removal of remains of past Oluwos from the traditional burial site inside the palace, known as “Ileta,” was unlawful and against Iwo custom.
The claimants further asked the court to declare the Oluwo of Iwo stool vacant and to order a fresh selection process in line with the Osun State Chiefs Law and the 1988 Chieftaincy Declaration for Iwo.
They also challenged the arrest and detention of Adedoja Osunwo by police officers in Abuja over what they described as a civil matter involving defamation of character.
The claimants asked the court to restrain security agencies from arresting or inviting them over the dispute and to stop the Oluwo from continuing to perform the functions of the office pending determination of the case.
Reacting through his media aide Alli Ibraheem, Oba Akanbi dismissed the suit.
“They are obviously dazed about the progress Iwo is recording under the reign of Oba Akanbi. He is representing God, no one can remove him. They can approach the court,” he said.
Oba Akanbi became the 16th Oluwo of Iwo in 2016 after his installation by the Osun State Government.
