An Ekiti State Magistrate Court sitting in the Ilawe Ekiti District has ordered the suspended priest of Ororin in Irorin Quarters, Sunday Adetolaju, to vacate the Owa Orin—the traditional residence of the Ororin deity priest.

The ruling, delivered on Tuesday in a motion dated June 3, 2025 (Suit No. MIL/1M/2025), followed a suit filed by the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Ajibade Alabi, against the suspended priest.

Chief Magistrate A.A. Adeyefa ruled:

“This honourable court hereby orders and directs the respondent (Adetolaju) to vacate Owa Orin premises lying, situated and being at Egbeku, Irorin Quarters, Ilawe Ekiti.
The respondent was there by virtue of his position as Ororin and Deity Priest of Orinlase in Ilawe Ekiti, but since he has been suspended by Ekiti State Government via Exhibit EKA2 attached to the motion, the place has to be vacated by the respondent pending final resolution between him and the applicant.”

Following Adetolaju’s suspension and the appointment of Omo Orin Tunde Bamgbotogun in an acting capacity by the Alawe, the monarch approached the court seeking relief.

In his motion, the monarch prayed the court:

  • To compel the respondent to immediately vacate the Owa Orin premises, which serves as the official residence of the reigning Ororin and Deity Priest of Orinlase in Ilawe Ekiti.
  • To make any other order the court may deem fit in the circumstances.

Oba Alabi’s counsel, Dr. Emmanuel Adetifa, argued that Owa Orin was not the personal property of the suspended priest but rather the official residence designated for the serving Ororin. He submitted that since an acting Ororin had already been appointed, Adetolaju should vacate the premises without delay.

Supporting documents tendered by the traditional ruler included:

  • A letter dated May 15, 2025, requesting permission to suspend Adetolaju for “flagrant disrespect and violation of the chief law.”
  • A response letter dated May 21, 2025, granting that permission.
  • A formal suspension letter also dated May 21, 2025, titled “Ororin Sunday Adetolaju: Suspension as Ororin.”

The court ruling, made available in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, affirms that Adetolaju must leave the residence pending final resolution of the dispute.

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