Ondo government warns traditional rulers against turning palaces into detention centres

Thursday, August 13, 2026 -  The Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Olukayode Ajulo, has warned traditional rulers against turning their palaces into courts or detention centres.

Ajulo gave the warning on Wednesday in Akure at a three-day workshop organised for traditional rulers by the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the workshop has the theme, “Repositioning the Traditional Institution for Harmonious Communal Relationship, Security, Cultural Preservation and Sustainable Development.”

He charged traditional rulers to exercise their authority within the confines of the Constitution and the law.

Ajulo said 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.

He said the Constitution did not establish the office of traditional rulers as a “fourth arm of government”, but recognised the role traditional institutions could play in local governance and community development.

According to him, traditional rulers should see themselves primarily as custodians of history and culture, symbols of communal identity, peace-builders, mediators and community mobilisers.

He added that the traditional institution was not an alternative court or government institution.

Ajulo warned traditional rulers 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,” he said.

He urged traditional rulers to identify criminal conduct, preserve peace, provide information and cooperate with the appropriate authorities instead of investigating, detaining or punishing suspects themselves.

He also emphasised the importance of fair hearing in traditional administration, saying a traditional ruler did not lose dignity by listening to both sides of a dispute.

Ajulo encouraged traditional institutions to embrace mediation and customary arbitration where appropriate, adding that such processes must be voluntary and clearly distinguished from judicial adjudication.

He also cautioned 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