Nigeria’s foremost human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, and his law firm, Falana & Falana Chambers, have submitted a petition to the State Security Service (SSS) concerning the alleged brutal assault and subsequent death of Chief Lukmon Suleiman Ojora Arounfale, the Baba Oba of Oyotunji Village in the United States. This incident followed his visit to the palace of Abimbola Akeem Owoade.
The petition, dated September 22, 2025, and addressed to the Director-General of the SSS, accuses the Alaafin and his palace aides of inflicting severe torture on Chief Arounfale and his entourage, which allegedly led to Arounfale’s death days later.
Written on behalf of Oladotun Ayodele, Adeola Ayodele, Dipole Awoyemi, and Rosaline Ayoka Arounfale, the petition details an incident that took place on April 17, 2025, when the group visited the Alaafin’s palace in Oyo Town, Oyo State. According to the lawyers, the visit began amicably until a disagreement erupted over coronation practices in Oyotunji Village, a Yoruba settlement located in Sheldon, South Carolina, United States.
Chief Arounfale reportedly stated that the Ooni of Ife had traditionally overseen coronations from the village’s inception. This response allegedly incited the Alaafin, who accused the visitors of being “liars, traitors, and spies” sent to undermine him. The petition asserts that the monarch then ordered his palace attendants to deal ruthlessly with the visitors.
The lawyers further allege that, under the Alaafin’s supervision, the visitors were violently assaulted. They claim mobile phones belonging to the victims were confiscated upon discovering that one was recording the incident. Chief Arounfale, described as elderly and frail, was reportedly beaten and pushed down a staircase during the attack.
In what appears to be an attempt to cover up the incident, the petition claims the Alaafin invited the Oyo Area Commander of the Nigeria Police Force to the palace, directing him to arrest the victims for undisclosed offenses. The victims were allegedly taken to the police office while bleeding and forced to write statements, despite not having committed any crime, according to Falana.
They were detained overnight and released on April 18, 2025, only after being compelled to write and sign a letter of apology to the Alaafin as a condition of bail. After their release, the victims sought medical treatment, but Chief Arounfale ultimately succumbed to his injuries on April 27, 2025.
Falana stated, “In a desperate bid to cover up the torture meted out to our clients, the Alaafin invited the Oyo Area Commander of the Nigeria Police Force to the palace and ordered him to arrest our clients for an undisclosed offence. The Area Commander arrested our clients who were drenched in their own blood and took them to his office where he made them write statements even though they had not committed any criminal offence whatsoever. To our clients’ utter shock, the Area Commander ordered their detention even though they were suffering excruciating pains as a result of the gruesome assault to which they had been subjected at the Palace of the Alaafin Owoade.”
“The Area Commander compelled our clients to write and sign a Letter of Apology to the Alaafin Owoade as a condition for their release on bail on the 18th day of April, 2025. Upon their release from the illegal police custody, our clients rushed to the hospital for medical attention. Despite the fact that they all received medical attention to ameliorate the resultant pain and trauma inflicted on them by the Alaafin and his palace thugs, Chief Lukmon Arounfale, an elderly person, eventually gave up the ghost on the 27th day of April, 2025,” Falana explained.
The senior advocate noted that although the Inspector-General of Police had reportedly ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the chief’s death and the probe was said to be concluded, no arrests or prosecutions had followed. “Based on intelligence reports, the Inspector-General of Police ordered a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding the untimely death of Mr. Baba Oba Arounfale. Even though the Police had concluded the investigation, the suspects have not been arrested and prosecuted for inflicting such brutal torture on our clients, which led to the untimely death of Chief Lukmon Arounfale. In view of the foregoing, you will agree with us that the brutal torture meted out to the late Chief Lukmon Arounfale and our clients by Alaafin Owoade and his palace thugs cannot be tolerated in a civilised society.”
Falana expressed confidence that the SSS would approach the matter professionally and urged for a fresh, thorough investigation, advocating for the prosecution of the suspects under the Criminal Code of Oyo State. “However, we are confident that the State Security Service will handle this case in its usual professional manner. We are therefore requesting that a thorough investigation be conducted by the State Security Service with a view to prosecuting the murder suspects under the Criminal Code of Oyo State. While anticipating your prompt action, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem,” Falana concluded.
