Court Declares Oba Akiolu Bonafide Oba Of Lagos
Justice Babajide Candide-Johnsonos of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on Friday declared that the current Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu is the bonafide paramount ruler of Lagos.
Justice Candide-Johnson made the declaration while delivering judgment in a suit filed by two members of the Lagos Royal Family, Prince Adedoyin Adebiyi and Prince Rasheed Modile, challenging Akiolu’s installation as the Oba of Lagos.
The judge dismissed the suit on the ground that the two plaintiffs failed to prove their case against the Oba.
The judge held that both their oral and documentary evidence were full of inconsistence.
The court noted that the onus lies with who alleges a breach to proof their case beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Candide-Johnson further held that, “reviewing the totality of evidence before the court, the nomination of the third defendant was done in accordance with the law.
“The evidence of claimants cannot stand the test. Claimant failed to place before the court evidence to substantiate their claims,” he held .
The judge also held that the court lacked the jurisdiction to upturn long established custom of over 200 years for the enthronement of the Oba of Lagos.
He maintained that what the claimants had attempted to do with the suit is a burning desire to overturn succession disaster of over 239 years.
The court also stated, “The ruling house of Ologun kutere have produced the Oba of Lagos in the past 223 years. Where a statute has given jurisdiction to tribunal, the High Court shall only assume a supervisory role. It is the customary court which has the authority to entertain and determine customary matter.”
On whether Akiolu was installed before 90 days, the judge held that the claimants argument was not supported with documentary evidence.
He held that documentary evidence helps to show where the truth lies.”
It would be recalled that the claimants instituted the suit in 2003 against the state governor, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Babatunde Akitoye and Junaid Eko.
Adebiyi and Modile are claiming that Akiolu is not entitled to the throne because he is not a member of a ruling royal family by not being a direct descendant of Oba Ado, the first Oba of Lagos.
According to the claimants only members of the Ologun Kutere and Akinsemoyin ruling households were entitled to the throne.
They also alleged that proper customary rules and procedures were not followed when he was appointed as Oba in May 2003.
