Court overturns Osun govt approval of ruling house

The Osun State High Court has overturned the state government's approval of the Lagbua family as the fifth ruling house in the Aragbiji chieftaincy. Justice G.O. Lawal ruled that the government lacked the authority to reopen and reconsider a 2010 panel of inquiry's report, which had already been rejected by the government in 2013.

The plaintiffs, representing the four existing ruling houses, argued that the government's 2013 decision ended the Aderibigbe panel's proceedings and that the proper avenue for dissatisfied parties was to challenge the decision in court rather than wait for a subsequent administration to revive the report. The court agreed, declaring the 2013 decision binding and finding that the government's action to revive the report without notification breached the existing ruling houses' right to a fair hearing.

The judgment set aside the January 29, 2025, Osun State Executive Council decision and the White Paper accepting the Aderibigbe panel's 2010 report.