The incumbent Owa of Igbajo in Osun State, Oba Ademola Stephen Makinde, has dismissed widespread rumours claiming he is dead, clarifying that it was the immediate past monarch, Prince Adegboyega Famodun, who passed away.
The clarification was issued in a statement released on Tuesday in Osogbo by the Traditional Secretary of the Royal Court of Igbajo, Gbonjubola Olorunnisola. He stated that the misinformation had led to an influx of calls and visits from concerned Nigerians seeking to verify the monarch’s well-being.
Olorunnisola attributed the confusion partly to the ongoing legal dispute between Oba Makinde and the late Famodun. Famodun, a former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, had been installed as Owa of Igbajo by former Governor Gboyega Oyetola before his removal in 2022 by Governor Ademola Adeleke. Some media reports had continued to refer to him as Owa, despite the state government’s recognition of Oba Makinde as the legitimate monarch on 12 March 2024.
“To put the record straight, there is an impending case at the Appellate Court in Akure, where the substantive appeal against the judgment of the High Court in Ile-Ife was filed,” the statement said. He added that a stay of execution had been filed and was yet to be heard, meaning that “the status quo remains”.
He further noted that both parties were in court on 13 November, after which the case was adjourned to January 2026.
Emphasising the need to correct false reports circulating on social media and in some news outlets, Olorunnisola affirmed that Oba Makinde “is very much alive and hale”.
“The misleading information has caused many well-meaning Nigerians to inundate the palace with phone calls, while others have thronged to the palace from far and near to ask after His Royal Majesty,” he said.
While correcting the misinformation, the palace expressed deep sorrow over the death of Prince Philip Adegboyega Famodun, describing him as an “irreplaceable son of Igbajo land” who made significant contributions to politics and community development.
The Gbeleru Royal Family had earlier announced Famodun’s passing in a statement issued by his son, David Famodun. The late monarch died on 28 November after a brief illness at the age of 67.
The palace extended condolences to the Gbeleru Royal House and the entire Igbajo community, praying for strength for the bereaved family.
