The Ondo State Government has warned traditional rulers in the state against turning their palaces into courts or detention centres.
The Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Olukayode Ajulo (SAN), gave the warning at a three-day workshop organised for traditional rulers by the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Akure on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
Ajulo, who charged monarchs to exercise authority within the confines of the constitution and the law, said the contemporary traditional rulers operated within a constitutional democracy and must understand the distinction between customary authority and powers reserved by law for the courts, police, and other statutory institutions.
Ajulo said the constitution does not establish the office of traditional rulers, as a ‘fourth arm of government’, but recognises the role traditional institutions can play in local governance and community development.
He warned traditional rulers across Ondo State against turning their palaces into detention centres or criminal courts, stressing that alleged criminal conduct must be handled by legally authorised law-enforcement institutions.
“An Oba should not order the indefinite detention of a person because that person is accused of stealing, insulting the palace, owing money, violating a community rule or participating in a dispute,” the attorney general stated.
Ajulo urged monarchs to identify criminal conduct, preserve peace, provide information and cooperate with the appropriate authorities instead of investigating, detaining or punishing suspects themselves.
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The commissioner also emphasised the importance of fair hearing in traditional administration, saying traditional ruler does not lose dignity by listening to both sides of a dispute.
He enjoined traditional institutions to embrace mediation and customary arbitration where appropriate, adding that such processes must be voluntary and clearly distinguished from judicial adjudication.
Ajulo also warned traditional rulers against using customary authority, as a licence for self-help, particularly in cases involving alleged land grabbing, intimidation, forceful entry or illegal occupation.
Ajulo, therefore, urged monarchs to strengthen their role in Ondo State’s security architecture by providing credible community intelligence to government and security agencies.
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