A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja presided over by Justice O. A. Oresanya has granted an order directing that the process filed in a suit against the Onikoyi of Lagos be served on him by pasting on the palace wall.
In a Motion Ex-parte filed by the claimants, they were praying the court for an order “granting substituted service of the Writ of Summons, other originating processes, and any other processes already filed and which may be subsequently filed in this action by the Claimant/Applicant on the 4th Defendant (Chief Hassan Kehinde Elegushi) by posting same on the wall of his premises at Onikoyi Palace, Block 5, Onikoyi Lane, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos State”, being the last known address.
The Claimants were represented in court by P. O. Lasisi, SAN, former Lagos Attorney-General, Adeniji Kazeem, SAN and Ademola Ekundayo, while the 4th Defendant was represented by Wale Adesokan, SAN.
The motion ex-parte was brought pursuant to Order 9 Rule(5) of the High Court of Lagis State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
Onikoyi Of Lagos stool controversy: Parties in the suit
Members of the Onikoyi Royal Family had challenged the appointment and installation of Prince Kunle Fafunwa as the Oba Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Moba Land.
The claimants in the suit are Otunba Abdul Ganiyi Kolawole Onikoyi, Prince Akinola Oyeniyi Fafunwa, Prince Abdul Waliu Omogbolahan Sulaimon, Chief Hassan Kehinde Elegushi, Alhaji Musiliu Abidemi Onikoyi, Alhaja Wosilat Quadri, Mrs. Adeola Davies, Prince Babatunde Onikoyi, Prince Babatunde Shadeko, and Alhaji Ashraf Akinyemi Esinlokun.
They instituted the action for themselves and on behalf of the Onikoyi Royal Family, otherwise known as the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Family.
The defendants in the suit are the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, the Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Eti-Osa Local Government, and Prince Kunle Fafunwa, the 4th defendant. Claimants Challenge Legality of Oba’s Appointment.
In the suit filed by their counsel, Mr. Ademola Ekundayo of Hill City Associates, Ikeja, the claimants are seeking several declaratory and injunctive reliefs against the defendants, contending that the purported selection, approval, and installation of Prince Kunle Fafunwa as the Oba of Ikoyi and Moba Land was illegal, null, and void.
They argued that the process leading to Fafunwa’s appointment violated the provisions of the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration of 2006 and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State, which regulate succession to the Onikoyi stool.
Specifically, the claimants are asking the court to set aside the purported selection, approval, and installation of the 4th defendant and to issue an injunction restraining him from parading himself or acting in any capacity as the Oba Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Moba Land.
They also seek an order directing the Lagos State Government and the relevant authorities to confirm and install the 3rd claimant, Prince Abdul Waliu Omogbolahan Sulaimon, as the legitimate Oba Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Moba Land.
Claimants insist, “It is the turn of Ojubiari branch.”
According to the statement of claim, the Onikoyi Royal Family consists of one ruling house known as the Muti Ruling House, which has 10 branches, namely: Fafunwa, Ojubiari, Kubayije, Ilumo, Idewu, Kugbamola, Aluko Ajose, Dosunmu Ajiwe, Adelo, and Dosunmu.
The family contends that under the 2006 Chieftaincy Declaration, the rotation of succession among these branches makes it the turn of the Ojubiari branch to produce the next Oba, following the demise of the late Oba Patrick Ibikunle Fafunwa, who hailed from the Fafunwa branch.
The claimants allege that the purported appointment of Prince Kunle Fafunwa, son of the late Oba Patrick Fafunwa, breaches the principle of rotation among the branches and offends established custom and tradition of the Onikoyi Royal Family.
They further averred that the family never nominated nor consented to the selection of the 4th defendant and that no valid family meeting or public notice was issued by the relevant authorities as required by law.
The claimants stated that after several letters and petitions to the state government and the Eti-Osa Local Government went unanswered, they instructed their counsel to institute legal action to prevent what they described as an “illegal imposition.”
They had earlier filed an ex parte application for judicial review in Suit No. LD/9134GCM/2025, seeking an order of mandamus compelling the state government to recognise and install Prince Sulaimon as the rightful Oba Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Moba Land.
Court adjourns for further hearing
The dispute over the Onikoyi’s stool, which has generated intense interest among members of the Onikoyi Royal Family and the Lagos traditional institution, is expected to test the application of the 2006 Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration and the customary rotation system among the branches of the family.
