Court Orders Suspended Ekiti Deity Priest to Vacate Traditional Residence

An Ekiti State Magistrate Court in the Ilawe Ekiti District has issued an order directing Sunday Adetolaju, the suspended priest of Ororin in Irorin Quarter, to vacate the Owa Orin—the traditional residence reserved for the Ororin deity priest.

The ruling, delivered on Tuesday by Chief Magistrate A.J. Arogundade in response to a motion dated June 3, 2025 (Suit No. MIL/1M/2025), was initiated by the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Ajibade Alabi. The court held that Adetolaju’s continued occupancy of the premises was no longer tenable, given his suspension by the Ekiti State Government.

The court stated, “This honourable court hereby orders and directs the respondent (Adetolaju) to vacate the Owa Orin premises… since he has been suspended by the Ekiti State Government via exhibit EKA2.” The ruling also emphasized that Adetolaju’s stay in the residence was strictly tied to his position as Ororin, which he no longer holds.

Following Adetolaju’s suspension for alleged flagrant disrespect and breach of traditional laws, Oba Alabi appointed Omo Orin Tunde Bamgbotogun to serve in an acting capacity. The monarch subsequently sought legal intervention to reclaim the property designated for the serving priest.

Court documents revealed that the traditional ruler requested an order “compelling the respondent to immediately vacate the Owa Orin premises,” which is situated in Egbeku, Irorin Quarters, Ilawe Ekiti. His legal counsel, Dr. Emmanuel Adetifa, argued that the property is institutional—not personal—and must be handed over to the newly appointed acting priest.

Key exhibits presented in court included official communications regarding the suspension, such as the letter dated May 15, 2025, requesting permission to suspend Adetolaju, and the subsequent government approval dated May 21, 2025.

The court’s decision marks a legal victory for Oba Alabi and reinforces the sanctity of traditional authority within the legal framework of Ekiti State.