BREAKING NEWS: HIGH COURT GRANTS INTERIM INJUNCTION IN ADOLOSEIMO I AMANANAWEI CHIEFTAINCY DISPUTE
Akure, Ondo State |
September 28, 2026
The dispute over the Amananawei Chieftaincy Title of Adoloseimo I Community in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State has taken a fresh legal turn following the grant of an interim injunction by the High Court of Ondo State, sitting in Akure, on Friday, September 25, 2026.
The order followed an urgent preservative proceeding instituted by members of the Kpiki family, who are asserting customary interest and entitlement in the presentation of a candidate for the Amananawei Chieftaincy of Adoloseimo I.
The Kpiki family, represented in the proceedings by Chief Daniel Kpiki, Pa. Samson Kpiki, Mr. Kinfor Kpiki and others, maintains that the family is the aboriginal owner of Adoloseimo I Community and, under the applicable customary arrangement, has the right to present a candidate for the chieftaincy.
The family had earlier selected Mr. Happy Diyeseikah Kpiki as its candidate for the Amananawei Chieftaincy.
However, a separate process was subsequently commenced by members of the Agbogho/JoJo family, who presented Mr. David JoJo of New Jerusalem as their candidate and proceeded with steps towards his presentation and installation.
Following the decision of the Agadagba of Arogbo, Pere Zacchaus Doubra Egbunu (JP), the Kpiki family became dissatisfied with the outcome and invoked the statutory review mechanism by making a representation to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ondo State, seeking a review of the decision.
The statutory representation is reportedly still pending.
Court Action to Preserve Status Quo
According to the Kpiki family, while the statutory representation remained pending, members of the Agbogho/JoJo family — including Mr. Job JoJo, Mr. Felix JoJo, Mr. Smart Koro and Mr. David JoJo — continued taking steps towards the presentation and installation of Mr. David JoJo as Amananawei of Adoloseimo I by the Agadagba.
Concerned that the ongoing process could render the pending statutory review ineffective, the Kpiki family approached the High Court through an originating summons, seeking preservative reliefs pending the determination of the statutory process.
In an urgent application founded on affidavit evidence, the High Court, on September 25, 2026, granted an interim injunction restraining the parties from proceeding with the proposed installation process, pending further proceedings before the court.
Court Order Duly Served — Counsel
Confirming the development, Lawrence K. Magi, Esq., Senior Partner at Dr N.P. Bemini & Associates and legal representative of the Kpiki family, stated that the interim injunction and the other processes filed in the matter have been duly served on the relevant parties.
According to Magi, the parties served include the Agadagba of Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom and the 2026 Chieftaincy Committee headed by High Chief Thompson Eduh, in addition to the other parties affected by the order.
He confirmed that the service was effected together with the court's interim injunction and the other processes in the suit, thereby formally bringing the court's order to the attention of the affected parties.
The development means that, pending further proceedings, the parties are expected to abide by the terms of the interim order.
The order is understood to be preservative in nature and does not, at this stage, constitute a final judicial determination of which family is entitled to the Amananawei Chieftaincy.
Rather, the immediate purpose of the proceedings is to preserve the subject matter and prevent steps that could potentially undermine the pending statutory review or affect the subject matter before the court.
The proposed installation of an Amananawei of Adoloseimo I is therefore now subject to the subsisting interim order of the High Court.
The case is expected to generate further legal and cu
stomary interest as proceedings continue.
