Oyo Govt Suspends Monarch over Illegal Mining
The Oyo State Government has suspended the Sobaloju of Ofiki, Chief Jacob Adefabi Sobaloju, for allegedly violating the State’s Executive Order 001/2023, which governs mining activities in the state and for encouraging trespassing on government-gazetted assets.
It noted that the decision was taken to protect the interest of Oyo State and its people.
Chief Sobaloju, according to a letter signed by the Director, Chieftaincy Matters in the Oyo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Olajire A.M, was accused of violating the said order as well as allegedly issuing consent letters to mining companies without proper authorisation, permitting mining activities in the State Government’s reserved forest and facilitating unauthorized mining operations.
The letter indicated that Chief Sobaloju has been suspended from the palace of the Onito of Ito effective from Monday, January 5, 2026, pending the outcome of investigation into the allegations, adding that his suspension is a precautionary measure to ensure the integrity of the investigation.
It directed the embattled Chief to refrain from all activities related to mining and issuance of consent letters to miners, interfering with the investigation into the allegations against him and to make himself available for questioning as required by the investigating team.
