An Ikeja High Court has dismissed a suit seeking to oust Rilwan Akiolu, as the Oba of Lagos.
Justice A. Candide-Johnson held that the claimants, Prince Adedoyin Adebiyi and Prince Rasheed Modile, two members of the Lagos royal family, failed to prove their case.
Details shortly…
THE Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, yesterday described President Muhammadu Buhari as a man of his words, adding that he would be victorious in Saturday’s presidential election.
Akiolu spoke when Buhari and his campaign team visited his palace at Iga Iduganra shortly after arriving the state in continuation of the presidential rallies ahead of the Feb. 16 election.
The traditional leader, who noted that the body of traditional rulers in the state is happy to receive the team, said they appreciated Buhari’s efforts as a highly respected person in Nigeria.
He assured Buhari that there would be a repeat of his 2015 electoral victory in the coming election.
“Give Buhari another chance and you will see how Nigeria will move forward,” Akiolu said.
The monarch decried the rot that past administrations left behind in the country.
“We should not go back to the past again. Now that you are here, Isha Allau, on Feb. 16, God will open the way for you. The best will happen to you,” he said.
Akiolu, the Chairman, Lagos State Traditional Council of Obas and Chiefs, thanked the President for his achievements since assuming office and urged Nigerians to continue to support him.
He listed a catalogue of requests, including mass transit and pressing issues on the Apapa Ports, which he said had all been committed into writing.
Akiolu presented Buhari with a Quran as he prayed for him.
In his response, Buhari commended Akiolu’s appreciation of the efforts of his government.
“I appreciate all you have said and I assure you that I will continue to do my best.
“The promise we made through our party in 2015, our country needs to be secured and properly managed.
“If there is no security, we cannot do anything no matter your resources. We thank God our efforts have brought some fruits,” Buhari said.
He said that his government was working hard to end importation of rice and ensure self-dependence.
“We can feed ourselves and the money we save, we can put it in infrastructure; we are building the roads, we are building the rails and we are building power.
“But the failure of former administrations in spite of enormous revenue they got to develop infrastructure is amazing,” Buhari said.
He commended the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on his hard work and efficiency for keeping contractors on their toes, saying that he has done creditably well.
Earlier in his welcome address, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode said the state was very delighted to receive the President and for all he had done for the state.
”It is my pleasure to welcome Mr President and Mr Vice President to the palace of the Oba of Lagos, who is the chairman of the council of Obas and Chiefs in Lagos State.
”On behalf of all of them, we welcome you to Lagos State in continuation of your presidential campaign rally.
“We are very delighted to receive you; we are very appreciative of everything that you have done for us in Lagos State.
“All our Kabiyesis are also very appreciative,” Ambode said.
According to him, Lagos has remained very peaceful in the last four years and the security and safety of Lagos cannot be underscored without the cooperation of all our traditional rulers.
He commended specially the Oba of Lagos and other traditional rulers for keeping the peace for the government.
According to Ambode, the President, Vice President and other party stalwarts are in the palace to receive royal blessings.
He added that with the royal blessings, APC will continue to hold strong in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari who arrived the palace at exactly 10:59 am departed with his team before noon.
In the team were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, APC Chieftain Bisi Akande, the National Leader of APC, Sen. Bola Tinubu and others.
It is good the much-anticipated nationwide strike planned to begin last Tuesday was shelved. Mercifully though.
We have the good sense of the labour leaders and the understanding attitude of government to commend for staving off what could have shut the whole country down. The skies could also have taken a holiday from the roaring noises of the aerial birds known as aeroplanes in our airspace, as aviation workers too had programmed themselves ready to down tools.
The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Aremu Akiolu, deserves special mention for the very patriotic role he was said to have played to appeal to the conscience of the labour leaders to suspend their planned action.
Some other prominent Nigerians were said to have intervened in their own ways, but what stands Oba Akiolu out was the fact that he personally scouted for the phone numbers of all the labour leaders who were central to the negotiation and reached out to them, pleading restraint.
One of the labour leaders told a reporter that he was moved by the tone and sobriety of the monarch’s appeal and his patriotic bent, especially when he moaned that the citizens they were trying to help would be the first to exploit themselves by hiking fares and prices of food and fuel during the strike action.
That’s one up for the permanent chairman of Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, who put aside his health and holiday engagements in London to help seek the truce that the nation got, to the relief of every citizen. It is a welcome departure from his controversial interventions in the recent past.
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday felicitated with Oba of Lagos Rilwan Babatunde Akiolu on his 75th birthday, saying the government remains proud of his contributions to Nigeria’s growth.
Buhari also joined the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and National Judicial Council (NJC) in celebrating one of the country’s brightest and resourceful lawyers, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), on his 87th birthday.
In a telephone conversation, the President hailed Akiolu’s courage and unwavering commitment to the country’s unity and peace.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President noted that the monarch always speaks the truth to people in power.
The President told the Oba of Lagos, who served 32 years as a Police officer, rising to the rank of Assistant Inspector General (AIG) before ascending his fathers’ throne, that his wisdom in tackling issues and encouraging civic responsibility in his domain has brought pride to the country.
He prayed that God would grant Oba Akiolu longer life and more wisdom to keep serving his people and the nation.
Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, sent warm felicitations to family, friends, close associates and professional colleagues of Chief Babalola, whose indelible imprint on the legal profession and academia remains legendary.
The President believed the legal luminary is an inspiration to both the young and old on the power of dreaming big and the audacity of following through, having started out as a Grade 11 teacher, who by hard work, discipline and self-motivation propelled himself to great heights of success, including establishment of a private university .
As the legal luminary marks his 87th birthday, the President affirmed that his wealth of knowledge and wisdom have been rightfully deployed in service of God, his country and humanity, while hailing his large-heartedness and love for the poor and vulnerable.
Buhari prayed for more of God’s abundant grace upon Chief Babalola for longer life, good health and strength to further serve the country and humanity.
A 27-year-old man, Salami Oluwatobi Peter, who allegedly claimed to be Oba Osuolale Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, was yesterday brought before an Ebute-Meta Magistrates’ Court for an alleged N15 million fraud.
Peter was arraigned by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti-Yaba, before Chief Magistrate A. O. Ajibade on a four count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining under false pretence.
Prosecuting Inspector Adebayo Oladele told the court that the defendant and others now at large, committed the offence sometime in the month of August, 2016.
He said they conspired and fraudulently obtained N15 million from the complainant, Moriselade Ajoke, under the pretence of assisting her to procure a slot in the proposed Lekki Free Trade Zone Airport Investment.
Peter was also alleged to have falsely presented himself to the complainant as the Oba of Lagos, Oba Osuolale Akiolu, “who is entrusted with the said proposed Lekki Airport Investment.”
According to the prosecutor, the offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 409, 312, and 380(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty.
Defence counsel, Bright Eboigbe, applied for his bail “on the most liberal terms.”
Chief Magistrate Ajibade granted him N2 million bail with two sureties in the like sum.
She ordered that the defendant be remanded in prisons custody pending the fulfilment of his bail terms and adjourned till October 16, for trial.
There are over a thousand suspected kidnappers in detention across the country, Inspector-Generalof Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris said Thursday.
He disclosed this during an interview with reporters shortly after he visited the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu at his palace.
According to Idris, the police were winning the war, just as he called for the establishment of special court and the limitation of trial time for suspected kidnappers.
He said: “We are addressing the issue of kidnapping across the country. On the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, we paraded more than 50 last week and today (Thursday), more suspects were paraded in Kaduna.
“Like I suggested in other fora, we should have a change. There should be a law creating a special court for kidnapping. Secondly, the period for trial should be shortened so that within a month or two, people are sentenced.
“At the moment, we have over a thousand suspected kidnappers in our custody nationwide. I believe we are winning the war and if these adjustments are made, kidnapping would be a thing of past.
Asked why the military seemed to have taken over internal security role , Idris said it was not for the police to comment on the issue.
He said: “Every country gets the police they deserve. It is not an issue for the police to comment on. I leave that for the people to decide.
“I can tell you that we are prepared for 2019 elections. More Area Commands, Mobile Squadron and units would be created across the country so that we can be closer to the people. All we are appealing is for the passage of the Police Trust Fund Bill.”
Lagos State Government has asked Obas, Baales and Chiefs across the State to continue to live above board in the maintenance of peace and security within their respective domains by exhibiting exemplary conduct.
Addressing all the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs at an interactive session on security issues in Lagos State, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami stated that the recent development in the State where a traditional ruler was apprehended for conniving with kidnappers to cause unrest was totally unacceptable.
He noted that as the custodians of traditions, culture and values, the government expect traditional rulers to display a high level of decorum.
In response, the Oba of Lagos and Permanent Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, His Royal Majesty, Oba Riliwanu Aremu Akiolu I, on behalf of the Obas and other Traditional Rulers pledged the unalloyed loyalty of the traditional rulers to the administration of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in maintaining peace across the length and breadth of the State.
Citing the instance of the arranged kidnap by the Baale Shangisha, Akiolu said that all residents of the State are better aware that there is no hiding place for any criminally-minded individual regardless of how highly-placed the person might be.
He urged residents of the State to be more vigilant about happenings within their neighbourhood, stressing that the identity of all evil-minded persons terrorizing the peace of the State will continue to be exposed.
“As I always say, there exist the likes of the Baale of Shangisha among our traditional rulers and it is my prayer that God will continue to expose such individuals. The act of evil connivance is ungodly; all fraudulent practices in the sales of land, landed properties and the like in any Lagos community will in no distant time meet their waterloo”, Akiolu stated.
The traditional ruler maintained that the task of policing, information gathering should henceforth be seen as a collective responsibility because the police are not magicians and they depend on the intelligence of all residents.
He, however, commended the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his unwavering investment in the police and other security outfits in the State, stressing that the investment has greatly added to the relative peace being enjoyed across the State.
He pleaded with Lagosians to always allow security officers perform their constitutional responsibilities of safeguarding and maintaining law and order most especially as the Local Government election will be holding on Saturday.
Also speaking at the event, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi said the secret of evil-master minders who have been fomenting trouble in the ancient town of Ikorodu are now being exposed as a result of the concerted efforts of all security agencies with the assistance of the traditional rulers.
He categorically stated that intelligence gathering so far did not indict any indigene of Ikorodu as a perpetrator of the insecurity around the town.
Oba Shotobi disclosed that he is always mindful of the fact that any dent on Ikorodu town affects his personality, the whole council of Obas and Chiefs and ultimately portends great setback for the State government, hence the need for him to be seen doing the needful in restoring security confidence to the town.
The Akran of Badagry, De Aholu Menu-Toyi I, urged the electorate to desist from violent acts ahead of the local government chairmanship elections, warning that the police are fully prepared for the election and would not hesitate to arrest anyone seen to disrupt peaceful conduct of the polls.
…Back Osinbajo’s Reconciliatory Moves on National Unity
Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday commended the measures taken so far by the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and by extension the Federal Government to quell tensions generated by agitation from some ethnic nationalities seeking to break away from Nigeria, saying that the unity of the country should be of paramount importance to all.
Governor Ambode, who spoke at Lagos House in Ikeja when he received on courtesy visit members of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs led by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, said as a State, Lagos would continue to support every effort made to keep the unity of the country especially by maintaining peace and accommodating all.
Speaking against the backdrop of earlier comments by Akiolu to the effect that the Council of Obas and Chiefs in the State were solidly in support of the peaceful co-existence of people in the country, Governor Ambode said the oneness of the country was of the essence, and that it was important for every segment of the country to promote the unity of the nation.
He said: “I also want to join the Chairman of Council of Obas and Chiefs in Lagos State to reiterate our support for the Federal Government to keep the unity of Nigeria and also uphold the tenets of the Constitution. We are very happy that all our traditional rulers in Lagos believe in oneness of Nigeria.
“We are happy also that we are very accommodating. We are also happy that we allow people from other tribes to live with us and we are ready to do everything to support the Acting President and the Federal Government in general that every effort they make, we will ensure that Lagos remains peaceful and then Nigeria remains peaceful,” Governor Ambode assured.
While reiterating the commitment of his administration to frontally address security issues in the State, Governor Ambode thanked the traditional rulers for supporting his efforts to ensure safety of lives and property in the State.
“I want to thank you for your support in terms of security. You are part of the security architecture of Lagos State because without you, we will not get the information we are using to reach out to the police and I also want to thank you for supporting our Neighborhood Safety Corps initiative.
“Like I said, it is about neighborhood safety and we have seen the hands of all our monarchs in the operation of the corps. We believe strongly that we need to put more efforts in the Neighborhood Safety Corps to make sure that this issue of kidnapping and other criminal activities become a thing of the past within the shortest possible time,” the Governor said.
Speaking specifically on the children that were kidnapped at the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla-Epe, Governor Ambode said at the moment, he would not want to divulge details of efforts being made by government to end kidnapping and other crimes in the State, but expressed optimism that the efforts would yield positive results.
“Like I said somewhere yesterday, I don’t like running government on the pages of newspapers because sometimes when we do it, it will jeopardize what we are doing on security which is why we have been very tactical about doing media trial in things like this.
“But just to let our monarchs know what we are doing, I feel very bad each time I hear about this but again life and safety first thereafter we will deal with other things. But to let you know truly that sometimes, some of these kidnapping issues are actually from enemies within but I just pray that when the children comes back, we will be able to talk about those things and so I just ask people to give us some time as we gather intelligence,” he said.
Earlier, Akiolu commended Governor Ambode for his efforts so far, and prayed for him to have a successful tenure of office, saying that the giant strides of the present government were appreciated.
He also said that monarchs in the State were very much in support of the peaceful co-existence of the country, adding that every tribe is welcome in Lagos.
“The peaceful co-existence of everybody is what we are after in Lagos and I have to say that Lagos is home to all,” Akiolu said.
Besides, the monarch reiterated the call for Lagos to be granted Special Status, saying that doing so would be to the overall benefit of the country.
Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos Tuesday told an Ikeja High Court that his selection and ascendancy to the throne followed the age-long traditional customs and traditions.
He told the court at resumed hearing that his reign as the Oba of Lagos is only being challenged because he declined the request of the claimants to succeed him.
Oba Akiolu stated this while being cross- examined by counsel to the claimants, Mr Babatunde Fashanu (SAN), at the resumed hearing of a suit challenging his selection as the Oba of Lagos before Justice Adebowale Candide-Johnson.
According to him, “the claimants had wanted to meet me somewhere to sign a document regarding the succession but I refused.
“It is not an individual chair; it belongs to the past, present and future.
“All human beings should not hate each other, we are equal in the eyes of God but not equal in our love for God,” Akiolu said.
He told the court that he has no grudges against individuals who he allegedly disliked by preventing them from succeeding him as the next Oba of Lagos.
Akiolu’s selection to the throne of Oba of Lagos is being challenged by Prince Adedoyin Adebiyi and Prince Rasheed Modile who are both of the Akinsemoyin Ruling House of Lagos.
Adebiyi and Modile were candidates chosen by the Akinsemoyin Ruling House to contest the Obaship title in 2003 after the demise of Oba Adeyinka Oyekan, the then Oba of Lagos in 2003 but lost the race to Oba Akiolu.
They are contending that he has no rightful claim to the throne.
But Oba Akiolu is insisting that he is the rightfully elected and bona-fide monarch of Lagos.
Joined as respondents in the suit are the state governor, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Prince Awobade Pearse, a representative of the Ologun Kutere Ruling House and Chief J.J Junaid – Eko, the head of the traditional white cap chiefs of Lagos.
They also include Prince Kola Balogun and Mr Musibau Kelani, who are the respectively the Head and Secretary of the Eshilokun royal family.
Responding to claims that he was elected less than 90-days after the demise of Oyekan contrary to customs, Akiolu said that such a rule was non – existent
“There have been 21 Obas of Lagos before the late Oba Oyekan, in the Lagos State selection of Obas, there is no 90-day rule.
“By the grace of God, I am a lawyer, I am duty bound to speak the truth, I have a duty to assist the court.
“The 90-day rule does not exist in the selection of Obas,” he said.
He disagreed with the claims of Adebiyi and Modile that he was not a descendant of Oba Ologun Kutere, a former Oba of Lagos who reigned from the late 1700s to the early 1800s.
He insisted on being a descendant of the late Oba Ologun Kutere and supported his claim with history of his royal lineage.
According to him, “Oba Ologun Kutere had five children, one of which was Akiolu, Akintoye was the last child and Akiolu and Olusi were the older children.
“Akintoye was three – months old when Oba Ologun Kutere died, I don’t know how old Akiolu was when his father died.
“By the grace of God, I am a direct descendant of Akiolu Ologun Kutere”, he contended.
Asked by Fashanu to state in order of seniority, the children of Oba Ologun Kutere, Akiolu replied that he does not know. “I don’t know, I don’t work at the births and deaths registry. What is important is that Akiolu is the child of Ologun Kutere.
“There have been three members of the Akiolu family who ran for the Oba of Lagos including an Akiolu family member known as Baba Ita-Ado, I can’t remember when he ran and I cannot tell lies.
“All Lagos princes who have no curse placed on them are entitled to run for the kingship, it is however the prerogative of the king makers to choose who will be king”, he maintained adding, ” many are called, few are chosen,” he said.
Akiolu maintained that his being capped as Oba during his coronation ceremony by a representative of the Eleboro family was not illegal despite the ceremony not being overseen by Chief Eleboro personally.
To butress his position, he said that one of the former monarchs of Lagos, Oba Adeniji Adele was capped by one Chief Gafar contrary to claims that in the history of Lagos, no Oba has been capped by any person other than Chief Eleboro.
He however contended that he was capped by the Eleboro family.
Justice Candide-Johnson has adjourned the matter till July 5 for continuation of hearing.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday attributed the greatness of the State to its ability to be the melting point for all cultures, just as he said that the people of the State over the years have distinguished themselves in making others feel home away from home.
Speaking at the Lagos History Lecture held at Eko Hotels and Suits with the theme: “Lagos: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” as part of activities marking Golden Jubilee anniversary of the State, Governor Ambode recalled that since inception, Lagos had effectively transited from an administrative entity to become the melting point of cultures and the socio-political and economic jurisdiction of global significance, rated today, as the fifth largest economy in Africa.
He described the lecture as an opportunity to have an introspection into the past, engage in an objective appraisal of the present and, a realistic prognosis of the future of another fifty years.
He said such necessitated the assemblage of knowledgeable royal fathers, elder statesmen, jurists of distinction and Lagos indigenes of repute to trace the history of the State and proffer insights as to the areas to concentrate on for the future.
Going down memory lane, Governor Ambode said: “It is important for us at this epochal gathering to refresh our memory about the beginning; the journey of how the AWORI played an important role in the evolution of what we call Lagos today:
“The same applies to the evolution of the EKO Royalty with the coming of the Bini from present day Edo State and even the momentous role played by the TAPPA in the making of our dear State.
“Our greatness is in our ability to be the melting point for all cultures and as at today, there is no tribe in Nigeria that is not represented in Lagos. From the Hausa/Fulani to the Igbo to the Kanuri to the Ibibio, the Nupe, the Berom, the Igala and so on and so forth all have spaces to live and live well in our dear State.
“Lagos is not just national in outlook. It is international. The Americans are here; the British are here; South Africans are in their thousands; the Chinese are not in short supply; and the Indians even have a community in Lagos.
“With all sense of modesty, there is no other State like Lagos in Nigeria. Some may say we owe this to the fact that Lagos used to be a Federal Capital Territory. But I really do not think so. While that may have contributed to our greatness, we are also a unique people ready to make fellow human-beings from other lands feel home away from home,” the Governor said.
While noting the progress which Lagos had witnessed politically, socially and economically, Governor Ambode said he was certain that the progenitors of the State would be happy in their graves with the tremendous progress in all spheres of governance that have elatedly become the lots of the State.
In his keynote lecture, Professor Hakeem Danmole traced the history of Lagos since the inception, saying that it was commendable that the legacy of achievement has been sustained in the State.
Going foward, Danmole, who is the Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, said the State must strictly adhere to rules and regulations, adding that for Lagos to reach greater heights, developmental plan must be followed.
While calling on the Federal Government to collaborate with the State Government to fast-track development in Lagos, Danmole urged the State Government to fully utilize its God’s given environment especially in area of water transportation.
Responding to a call by Governor Ambode for the notion of Lagos being a no man’s land to be addressed, first Town Clark of the Lagos City Council, Senator Habib Fasinro and former Minister of Works, Alhaji Femi Okunnu (SAN) said those behind such claim were ignorant.
They said such claim was not only misleading but confrontational, as same abused the history of the indiginous people of Lagos such as the Aworis, Egbas, Binis, Ijeshas, Nupes, Brazilian returnees, among others.
On his part, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu corroborated Fasinro and Okunnu, and urged the National Assembly to reconsider the motion to grant special status to Lagos, saying doing so would be in best interest of Nigeria.