Osun-Osogbo festival: Court reinstates deposed priest, priestess

An Osun State High Court on Thursday held that one Adigun
Olayiwola and Adesiyan Olayiwola should not be replaced as priest
and priestess in charge of Osun-Osogbo festival.

The court presided over by Justice A.O Ayoola, said both Adigun
and Adesiyan should not be prevented by Ataoja, Oba Jimoh
Olanipekun from performing their duties during the Osun Osogbo
festival, the grand finale of which would be held on Friday.

The two officials had been replaced with new priest and
priestess, who had functioned in the capacity since last year
August.

Adigun and Adesiyan, however, approached the court through their
lawyer, Mr Lukman Adeleke, seeking an order restraining Ataoja from
stopping them from performing their duties during the 2019 edition
of Osun Osogbo festival.

Ruling on an application, Justice Ayoola, noted that both Adigun
and Adesiyan had performed the duties of Osun priest and priestess
since the days of the immediate past Ataoja, Oba Oyewale
Matanmi.

Justice Ayoola added that even after the passage of Oba Oyewale,
the plaintiff/applicants still played the role of Osun priest and
priestess.

She maintained that the loss and damage that stopping the two
officers from performing their roles during Osun festival would
cause them would be impossible to calculate.

The judge subsequently ordered that the defendants/respondents
should not restrict the applicants from entering the Osun temple
located within the Ataoja palace or stop them from participating in
any activities relating to the celebration of Osun-Osogbo
festival.