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Monarch Crisis: Ogun Court Strips Macgregor Of Olu of Orile Ilawo Title
The Ogun State High Court, sitting in Abeokuta, has invalidated the installation of Alexander Macgregor as the Olu of Orile Ilawo, declaring the process that led to his emergence as illegal.
Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, Justice Olatokunbo Majekodunmi ordered Macgregor to stop parading himself as the Olu of Orile Ilawo, pending the resolution of a legal suit challenging his nomination and installation.
The case was filed by the Ogunsanya-Ariku Royal Family, who alleged that the process was fraught with irregularities, including the substitution of warrant chiefs approved by the Ilawo Traditional Council with unrecognized individuals.
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Justice Majekodunmi strongly criticized the Ogun State Government for proceeding with the installation despite the pending court case, describing the move as “an act of impunity and disregard for the judiciary.”
“It is an impunity and disregard to this court for the defendant to go ahead with the installation of the 7th defendant (Macgregor) despite a pending court case,” Justice Majekodunmi said.
“Immediately a case is ongoing, people are under a legal duty not to go ahead with anything pending the determination of the suit. Doing such is tantamount to undermining the integrity of the court.”
The court issued an order mandating the withdrawal of all instruments of office, including the staff of office and other symbols of authority granted to Macgregor, effectively restoring the stool of Olu of Orile Ilawo to its prior status before the disputed nomination process.
The Ogunsanya-Ariku Royal Family had sought to halt the installation following the death of the former monarch on December 24, 2021.
The family argued that the nomination process violated traditional protocols and was manipulated to favor Macgregor.
Reacting to the court’s decision, the Secretary of the Aiku and Ogunsanya dynasties, Dr. David Ogunsanya, lauded the ruling as a triumph for justice and fairness.
“We commend the judiciary for upholding justice,” Dr. Ogunsanya said. “Today, we are elated to brief the distinguished members of the press that the installation of Mr. Olusegun Macgregor has been nullified and discarded by a competent court of law with an instruction that he should henceforth desist from parading himself as the Olu of Orile Ilawo.”
He warned that any defiance of the court’s ruling would be considered contempt of court and urged members of the public to adhere to the court’s decision.
“Going forward, any action contrary to this court ruling would, by our understanding of its dictates, amount to contempt of court, which, of course, shall be reported to the appropriate quarters,” Dr. Ogunsanya said.
He further cautioned members of the public, stating, “Anyone who continues to patronize Mr. Olusegun Macgregor and his cohorts as Olu of Orile Ilawo is doing so at their own peril.”
The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has assured corps members deployed to the state of their safety, despite rising security concerns across the region.
Speaking on Friday through the Commissioner for Youth, Sports Development and Creativity, Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, Governor Alia said his administration is working closely with security agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of all National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members throughout their service year.
“Sadly, our nation is currently bedevilled with security challenges, and Benue State is not exempt,” the governor stated.
“However, let me quickly allay your fears and assure you that, as a government, we are committed to ensuring that your safety is guaranteed throughout your stay in the state.”
He noted that comprehensive protective measures have been implemented across corps lodges and other areas occupied by corps members in the state.
Governor Alia also encouraged the new corps members to take full advantage of the NYSC’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, describing it as a “gateway to great opportunities.”
He further urged them to use their God-given talents to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s development.
In her remarks, the State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Veronica Garba, thanked the governor and the people of Benue for their continued support of the scheme.
She charged the new inductees to actively participate in the four cardinal components of the orientation course: physical training, motivational lectures, sporting activities, and SAED.
The orientation exercise welcomed a total of 1,600 corps members, officially inducted into the programme by Justice Peter Ukande, who represented the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambeae.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has approved the appointment of a new Acting Director of Administration for the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH), Uburu.
This was contained in a statement in Uburu on Thursday by the DUFUTH’s Public Relations Officer, Agwu N. O.
According to Agwu, the new appointee is Edith Anih, an indigene of Enugu State with relevant working experience, having worked at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, where she was Deputy Director of Administration.
It was gathered that the approval was conveyed in a letter dated April 23, 2025, addressed to the Chief Medical Director.
Prior to her appointment, Anih held the position of Deputy Director of Administration at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu.
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He wrote, “Mrs. Anih Edith Ndidi is a seasoned administrator born on May 22, 1973. She is married and hails from Enugu State, specifically Enugu South Local Government Area.
“She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration and a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management. She is also an associate member of the Institute of Health Service Administrators of Nigeria (IHSAN).
“The Management of DUFUTH extends a warm welcome to the new DA and looks forward to collaborating with her as she brings a fresh perspective to the hospital’s administrative leadership.”
The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to launch a forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), in a major move aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, at the ongoing Nigerian Investor Forum, held on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC.
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Edun explained that the upcoming audit, along with recent changes in NNPCL management, is part of a broader effort to reform the state-owned oil company and rebuild trust in Nigeria’s economic institutions.
Addressing top global investors, including representatives from financial giant J.P. Morgan, Edun outlined a series of bold economic reforms introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
He said the measures are already yielding positive results and have laid a strong foundation for future growth.
“Our goal is not just to maintain this momentum, but to accelerate it,” Edun said. “We are targeting seven per cent annual growth, and we believe the policies we have implemented have laid the groundwork to achieve this.”
According to Edun, Nigeria’s economy grew by 3.84% in the fourth quarter of 2024, with an overall annual growth rate of 3.4%.
He described the government’s economic strategy as “unprecedented,” adding that key indicators such as the budget deficit, trade balance, and exchange rate have all shown signs of improvement.
“We said we would do it, and now we have done it. This time, we’re staying the course,” he emphasized.
The minister also highlighted the government’s focus on agriculture as a critical driver of economic growth, saying efforts are underway to close the food supply gap by empowering local producers.
“We aim to close the food supply gap, not by importing more, but by enabling domestic producers to scale and innovate,” he said.
In the area of infrastructure, Edun announced that 90,000km of fibre optic cable has been rolled out to boost internet connectivity, especially for young Nigerians and the tech ecosystem.
Additionally, 4,000km of roads have been earmarked for private sector participation, with the first 1,000km already approved for construction.
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