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Tag: Onikoyi

  • Court grants order for substituted service on Onikoyi

    Court grants order for substituted service on Onikoyi

    Justice O. A. Oresanya of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has granted an order directing that court processes in a suit against the Onikoyi of Lagos be served by pasting them on the palace wall.

    The claimants, in a motion ex-parte, asked the court for substituted service of the writ of summons, other originating processes, and any future processes on the fourth defendant – Chief Hassan Kehinde Elegushi.

    This would involve posting them on the wall of his premises at Onikoyi Palace, Block 5, Onikoyi Lane, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos State, which is the last known address.

    The claimants appeared in court through P. O. Lasisi, SAN; former Lagos Attorney-General Adeniji Kazeem, SAN; and Ademola Ekundayo.

    The fourth defendant was represented by Wale Adesokan (SAN).

    The motion ex parte relied on Order 9 Rule 5 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

    Members of the Onikoyi Royal Family have challenged the appointment and installation of Prince Kunle Fafunwa as the Oba Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Moba Land.

    The claimants 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.

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    They filed the action for themselves and on behalf of the Onikoyi Royal Family, also known as the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Family.

    The defendants 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 seek several declaratory and injunctive reliefs against the defendants.

    They argue that the selection, approval, and installation of Prince Kunle Fafunwa as Oba of Ikoyi and Moba Land were illegal, null, and void.

    They claim the process violated the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration of 2006 and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State, which govern succession to the Onikoyi stool.

    The claimants want the court to set aside the selection, approval, and installation of the 4th defendant. They also seek an injunction to stop him from parading or acting as the Oba Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Moba Land.

    In addition, they request an order directing the Lagos State Government and relevant authorities to confirm and install the 3rd claimant, Prince Abdul Waliu Omogbolahan Sulaimon, as the legitimate Oba Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Moba Land.

    The statement of claim states that the Onikoyi Royal Family has one ruling house, the Muti Ruling House, with 10 branches: Fafunwa, Ojubiari, Kubayije, Ilumo, Idewu, Kugbamola, Aluko Ajose, Dosunmu Ajiwe, Adelo, and Dosunmu.

    The family argues that under the 2006 Chieftaincy Declaration, succession rotates among these branches and that it is now the Ojubiari branch’s turn after the death of the late Oba Patrick Ibikunle Fafunwa from the Fafunwa branch.

    The claimants allege that appointing Prince Kunle Fafunwa, son of the late Oba Patrick Fafunwa, breaks the rotation principle and violates the family’s customs and traditions.

  • Family seeks removal of Fafunwa as Onikoyi

    Family seeks removal of Fafunwa as Onikoyi

    Onikoyi Royal Family has called for the removal of Prince Kunle Fafunwa as the Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Imoba land in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    It urged the state government to halt his installation.

    Speaking on behalf of the family during a protest in front of Lagos State House of Assembly, spokesman for the family, Adesoji Onikoyi, described Fafunwa’s installation as disappointing, insulting and a slap on the face of the family.

    He said Sulaimon Omogbolahan was the duly Oba-elect selected by the family.

    Adesoji said Fafunwa’s installation didn’t follow due process, which should be, in accordance with the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration of 2006 Gazette that said the stool must be rotational among the 10 branches of the royal family.

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    He said the family wanted the installation of Fafunwa revoked by the state government, noting that the 2006 Gazette, which specified that the stool should be rotational, was approved, gazetted and signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while serving as Lagos State governor.

    Adesoji said the 10 ruling houses that comprised Onikoyi Royal Family included Fafunwa, Ojubiari, Kubayije, Ilumo, Idewu, Kugbamola, Aluko Ajose, Dosunmu Ajiwe, Adelo and Dosunmu, adding, ‘’after Fafunwa Ruling House, it is the turn of Ojubiari.’’

    He said the official gazette specified that the next line for the throne was Ojubiari branch, according to the established tradition and agreement within the family.

    Said he: “It is important to clarify that the Fafunwa branch, which recently occupied the throne, does not hold the right to continue ruling as gazetted, in line with the official gazette.”

    Alhaja Faozeat Ekundayo and the General Secretary of the family, Oyebode Shadeko, urged the state government to do the needful by following due process, in line with Onikoyi’s Chieftaincy Declaration of 2006 Gazette.

    A member of Lagos State House of Assembly representing Amuwo-Odofin Constituency II, Rauf Sulaimon, addressing the protesters, said their complaints would be tabled before members of the assembly.

    He promised that the royal family would be summoned by the assembly to a meeting, to resolve the issue amicably.

  • Family raises the alarm over alleged attempt by ex-monarch’s son to impose himself as next Onikoyi

    Family raises the alarm over alleged attempt by ex-monarch’s son to impose himself as next Onikoyi

    Some members within the extended Onikoyi royal family in Lagos Island have raised the alarm over alleged attempt by a son of the immediate past Onikoyi, Oba Ibikunle Fafunwa, to impose himself as the next Onikoyi. 

    The family members explained that Prince Kunle Fafunwa, the youngest son of the late monarch, is making efforts to impose himself as the new Onikoyi against the will of the royal family. 

    They also explained that Prince Fafunwa’s plan to become the next Onikoyi contradicts the rotational agreement, which is part of the provisions of the 2006 Onikoyi declaration signed by former Lagos Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is the current President. 

    Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, a male member of the family, Prince Olayinka Abidemi Onikoyi from Aluko Ajose branch, noted that there are 10 branches within the Onikoyi royal family. 

    He added that all the branches had unanimously honoured the rotational agreement and endorsed a candidate among themselves.

    Prince Abidemi also expressed concerns and wondered why the son of the immediate past Onikoyi will signify interest in becoming the next Onikoyi by all means when he is aware of the rotational agreement among all the branches. 

    He called on Lagos State Government and other relevant authorities to call him to order.

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    He said: “My name is Olayinka Abidemi Onikoyi from Aluko Ajose branch. What we are talking about is 2006 Onikoyi declaration. We used to have Chief before. The Lagos state government set up a tribunal, they looked at our history and we were given the order to have King. In the declaration, it was stated that there will be ten branches. The first on the list is Fafunwa, the family that produced the late king. So, how will his son say that he will be the next king when we have others branches waiting?

    “The Onikoyi royal family is more that 5,000 people. There is a declaration that says it should be rotated among all the branches. How can somebody whose father left the throne say it is his turn?

    “The entire Onikoyi royal family came together and unanimously honoured the 2006 Onikoyi declaration. The Ojubira branch presented 3 candidates and out of them, one has been settled for. His selection was supported by all the branches. So, the son of the immediate past Onikoyi does not have the right to contest at this point in time. I also want to be king, but it is not our turn yet.”

    Another member of the Onikoyi royal family, Alhaja Fausat Alli Onikoyi, while speaking to journalists, said that it will not be possible for someone whose father left the throne to become the next Onikoyi because of the provisions of the declaration which states that it should be rotated among all the branches. 

    She said: “We have 10 branches because Muti had 10 children. It is not possible for Prince Kunle Fafunwa to be the next Onikoyi because ascension to the throne is on a rotational basis. 

    “We don’t have any problem with anyone. Anything apart from what the family has done is illegal. All the branches were present and well represented when the decision to choose the next Onikoyi was taken, and there is no going back on our decision.”

    She alleged that Prince Kunle Fafunwa doesn’t have respect for the Onikoyi royal family at large, accusing son of the immediate past Onikoyi of considering himself bigger than the family. 

    She also alleged that the prince in question has continued to commit all kinds of atrocities against the family, single-handedly  selling family lands, living large, buying luxury cars and mansions to the detriment of the larger family members. 

    Alhaji Balikis Elegushi-Onikoyi had earlier released a video on social media making same allegations against the son of the late monarch and calling on relevant authorities to rescue the royal family. 

    Attempts by our correspondent to reach Prince Fafunwa proved abortive as his mobile was not reachable.

  • ‘Why family selected me as Onikoyi elect’

    ‘Why family selected me as Onikoyi elect’

    The Onikoyi elect, Prince Abdul Waliu Oladimeji Sulaiman, has said that the family selected him as the candidate to fill the vacant stool of Onikoyi due to his being a family-oriented person who cares so much about the family and loves to bring them together as a whole.

    Sulaiman was selected the Onikoyi Family as the Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Moba Land Oba-elect in Lagos State last week.

    His selection was at a well-attended open meeting of the Muti Onikoyi Royal Family at Iga Onikoyi, Lagos Island, following the demise of Oba Patrick Ibikunle Fafunwa and was in line with the provisions of the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration of 2006.

    The selection of Prince Abdul Waliu Oladimeji Sulaiman by the Muti Onikoyi Royal Family as Oba-elect was in line with the provisions of the 2006 Declaration, since the Fafunwa branch was the branch whose reign ended upon the demise of Oba Patrick Ibikunle Fafunwa, while the next branch in line is the Ojubiari branch.

    He was presented by the head of the Ojubiari branch, Alhaji Akinyemi Eshinlokun and the head of the entire Onikoyi Royal Family, Otunba Abdul Ganiyi Kolawole Onikoyi, with the majority of heads of branches in attendance.

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    The Onikoyi elect has said that his selection was based on his past record in the family.

    Sulaiman spoke with journalists on Tuesday.

    The Onikoyi elect explained that being family-oriented means being close to your family members and supporting them in whatever they do, adding that the care extends to one’s children and other family members.

    He said: “The truth is that I feel great, I feel honoured, the love of the whole family shows that when you love your family, when you contribute to the growth of the family, you get noticed and rewarded at due time. The reward for the good deeds does not go unnoticed.

    “That is the most important thing. I realised that it is not my doing, it is my unconditional love and care for the family that informed their decision to choose me. I feel happy and honoured.”

  • Idejo Chiefs know Onikoyi has two ruling houses – Dosunmu Royal Family

    Idejo Chiefs know Onikoyi has two ruling houses – Dosunmu Royal Family

    The Dosunmu Onikoyi Ruling House of the Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Imoba lands has maintained there are two ruling houses entitled to the throne of the kingdom, challenging any journalist or media house to take a trip to Isale Eko to find out from the Chiefs of the land, particularly the Idejo class of Chiefs and Obas, who are versed in the history, instead of accepting the declaration of 2006 which the Muti family is brandishing and forcing down the throats of all and sundry as a prerequisite for the selection of the next Oba of Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Imoba lands.

    Speaking on behalf of the family, Prince Ganiyu Onikoyi said any Idejo chief or Oba will tell you they are only conversant with two ruling houses of the Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Imoba throne, adding that the so-called 10 ruling houses are alien to them because it was not in any history book of Lagos.

    “Please and please, I beseech of you to visit Isale-Eko and speak with any chief concerning the number of ruling houses in Onikoyi Royal Family. It is a history well known by oral tradition and well documented in some books. Go and read H.A.B Fasinro’s book titled “Political and Cultural Perspectives of Lagos State ” published in 2004 before the contraption of a declaration fraudulently engineered by the Muti family with the connivance of some mischievous elements in government

    “H.A.B. Fasinro’s deep excursion into political and cultural perspectives of Lagos provides an interesting reading for all and in particular the indigenes clustered around Isale-Eko.The three-hundred and eighty three page book helps to put at rest conflicting historical accounts of the original owners of the Island City, including obaship and chieftaincy tangles and other volatile issues.

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    “Fasinro, with more than five decades in legal practice, a top public administrator, as he was for about 10 years the town clerk of the former Lagos City Council and a one-time Senator, blended his write-up with appropriate native songs, a frat which only a person born and bred as well as deeply tutored in traditions and customs of Isale-Eko could ever contemplate. for example, the book is replete with praise songs for each of the Obas of Lagos, each of the traditional Chieftaincy Houses and some dead eminent Lagosians.

    “Fasinro’s historical verdict on the Onikoyi of Ikoyi is that there are two ruling houses, namely; Muti and Dosunmu. It is clear what the Muti family did was a crime against God and humanity. Even if you want to have an amendment to the Supreme Court judgement that clearly upheld that there are 2 Royal houses, shouldn’t the other family be present? But they surreptitiously procured their declaration and gazette it.

    “There is so much greed and deceit inherent in the declaration. How could you want to divide 2 families into 10 and you have 9 families from one branch, which is Muti, leaving 1 for the Dosunmu major branch. Where is the justice in that?  What format was employed to divide the family. Clearly, there was a travesty of Justice and a rape of any known law of humanity,” he said. 

    Continuing, Prince Ganiu, added: “What the Muti family did was a travesty of Justice and history. Being the incumbent ruling house, all their efforts were to keep themselves in power permanently. Imagine, out of the 10 so-called ruling houses, 9 of them are sub branches of the Muti family, while the 10th one is reserved for the Dosunmu House. More interestingly, the rotation by their arrangement puts Dosunmu as the last house to rule.

    “In law as we understand, once a Supreme Court has ruled on a case, it is final. But the Mutis were so adept in their trickery game that they surreptitiously hid the facts of the matter from the government of the day.

    “It was a mockery of our history, culture and our very existence. How could you want to change history made by our ancestors? Our progenitor, Onikoyi Adeyemi, a direct descendant of Jegbeade Onikoyi, the first Oba Onikoyi of Ikoyi Ile founded Ikoyi and Imoba lands. He had 3 children, namely; Ogabi, Fajobi and Igbodi. While Ogabi had Muti, Fajobi begat Dosunmu and Igbodi died childless. After Adeyemi, Muti succeeded him as Chief Onikoyi of Lagos. Next was Dosunmu who reigned from 1860 to 1891. 

    “Coming to recent times, the Onikoyi of Ikoyi before Oba Ibikunle Fafunwa-Onikoyi was Adamo Fagbemi Dosunmu Onikoyi from Dosunmu branch. How could you want to rub off this beautiful lineage of ours because of greed. Of course, they have had their days in court but then every dog has its day. The matter is in the Supreme Court and I strongly believe we will be victorious, Insha Allah,” the prince  concluded..

  • Onikoyi stool: Royal family tackles Dosunmu branch

    Onikoyi stool: Royal family tackles Dosunmu branch

    • Insists ruling house is one

    The Onikoyi Royal Family has reacted to claims by one of its branches, the Dosunmu branch, that there are two ruling houses entitled to the throne of Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Imoba land, describing it as a fallacy, and insisting there is only one ruling house.

    The royal family, in a statement issued yesterday and signed on their behalf by Akeem Animashaun Esq., accused the Dosunmu branch of “selective honesty” and said it needed to set the record straight for the benefit of unsuspecting members of public.

    The Dosunmu branch had last Tuesday alleged that there are two ruling houses, judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the case of AGBETOBA&ORDS Vs. LAGOS STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL&ORDS reported in 1991 4 NWLR part 188. Reacting to this, however, the Onikoyi Royal Family, in the statement, accused the Dosunmu branch of not yet coming to terms with reality.

    The Onikoyi Royal family said the issues for determination in the Supreme Court judgment cited by the Dosunmu branch were on the validity of a chieftaincy declaration made in 1981, adding that the Dosunmu branch “in their usual characteristics of selective honesty” deliberately refused to inform the public of the amendment of the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration of 2006.

    The royal family stated: “The Dosunmu branch in their usual characteristics of selective honesty refused, failed and/or deliberately jettisoned the need to inform the public that upon the amendment of the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration ,2006, they lost in an action against the Lagos State Government at the High Court of Lagos State challenging the amendment of the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration 2006, in the case of ALHAJI (ARC) RAFIU ONIKOYI & ORS V. GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE & ORS with Suit No. M/451/2006 and judgment delivered on 11th December,2009, upon appeal the court affirmed the decision of the lower court in ALHAJI (ARC) RAFIU ONIKOYI & ORS V. GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE & ORS with appeal No. CA/L/276/2010.

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    “The Court of Appeal in an appeal filed by ALHAJI (ARC) RAFIU ONIKOYI & ORS V. GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE & ORS with appeal No. CA/L/276/2010   against the decision of the lower court challenging the amendment of the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration 2006, the Court of Appeal in affirming the decision of the lower court resolved the issue of whether the Governor of Lagos State or the Chieftaincy committee is vested with the power to amend a declaration. The court resolved in favour of the respondent and promptly dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

    “Also in the case of ALHAJI (ARC) ABDU RAFIU OLWUNMI ONIKOYI & ORS V. HRH PATRICK IBIKUNLE FAFUNWA ONIKOYI with Suit No. LD/1391/2010 in his judgment HON. JUSTICE O.H OSHODI in his judgment said and I quote;

    “ There is no dispute that exhibit DWA is an amended declaration. The Claimant in their evidence before the court are aware of this amended this declaration. All they allege is that it came into existence on the back of abuse of office and a mockery, thus according CW1, it is invalid! Again to repeat, no shred of evidence is led to tell the court how exhibit DWA constitute any abuse of office, or it being a mockery. The issue here is not to set aside exhibit DWA.

    Now by the provisions of Section 13 (1) & (2) of The Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State Law, Cap O2, any registered declaration amended, made by the Chieftaincy Committee and approved by the Governor, shall be registered, and if not registered, such amended Declaration shall not come into effect until registered.

    A look at exhibit DWA, it is apparent that it was made on 16th May 2006 by the Chieftaincy Committee, signed by the Governor on 23rd May 2006 and registered on 25th May 2006. In sum, exhibit DWA has fully complied with the law. This being the case, exhibit DWA has the force of a law – See AYOADE V MILITARY GOVERNOR, OGUN STATE (supra).

    Learned counsel for the Claimants, in the written address submitted at para 4.1.4 that the Court of Appeal in its judgment in suit No: CA/L/697/2012 between ALHAJI (ARC) ABDUR-RAFIU ONIKOYI & 2 ORS V STERLING ASSETS MAN. & TRUSTEES LTD & 2 ORS, delivered on 9th June 2017, had considered this exhibit DWA and found in favour of the Appellants.

    While this submission is partly correct, in that the judgment of the Appeal Court was in favour of the Appellants therein, learned counsel should note that the issue that came into focus in that judgment was that whether the lower Court was right to have relied on evidence not before it or pleaded. The effect of exhibit DWA to exhibit B, the judgment of the Apex Court was not pronounced upon by the Appeal Court in that judgment relied upon.

    To the Court the effect of the coming into effect of exhibit DWA is that the notion that there are 2 (two) Ruling Houses, Muti and Dosunmu, as held by the Apex Court in exhibit B, does not hold anymore after the coming into effect of exhibit DWA on 25th May 2006.

    “In light of the foregoing it is crystal clear that the question of ruling house has been settled and it will amount to mischief on the part of the Dosunmu branch to continue to mislead the public and peddle falsehood by claiming that there are two ruling house in the Onikoyi Royal family.”

  • Onikoyi family selects APC chieftain as Oba-elect

    Onikoyi family selects APC chieftain as Oba-elect

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and long-time supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Prince Abdul Waliu Oladimeji Sulaiman, has been selected by the Onikoyi family as the Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Moba land Oba-elect.

    His selection on Sunday at a well-attended open meeting of the Muti Onikoyi Royal Family, held at Iga Onikoyi, Lagos Island, followed the demise of Oba Patrick Ibikunle Fafunwa and was in line with the provisions of the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration of 2006.

    In 2006, when Asiwaju Tinubu was governor, Lagos State Government, as part of efforts to resolve a protracted crisis over the number of ruling houses in the Onikoyi Royal Family, made the Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration.

    Governor Bola Tinubu, as he was then, based on sound legal advice, supported by facts and incontrovertible evidence, signed the amended declaration to reflect just one ruling house, but 10 branches and ascension or selection Onikoyi of Lagos to be based on rotation between the branches.

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    The selection of Prince Sulaiman by the Muti Onikoyi Royal Family as Oba-elect is in line with the provisions of the Declaration, since the Fafunwa branch was the branch which reign ended upon the demise of Oba Fafunwa, while the next branch in line is the Ojubiari branch.

    After a rigorous and painstaking selection process, Prince Abdul Waliu Oladimeji Omogbolahan emerged as the preferred candidate and has been presented to the entire family as the next Oba Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Moba land.

    He was presented by the head of the Ojubiari branch, Alhaji Akinyemi Eshinlokun and the head of the entire Onikoyi Royal Family, Otunba Abdul Ganiyi Kolawole Onikoyi, with the majority of heads of branches in attendance.

    Prince Sulaiman is a card carrying member of the APC and a die-hard supporter of President Tinubu. He has over the years supported the party financially, especially at the grassroots level. He is an easy going, selfless and generous individual. In the last 10 years, the prince has provided numerous sponsorship opportunities for students at all levels of our educational system.

    Widely travelled and well read, Prince Sulaiman holds a Master’s degree in Organisation Leadership from Arizona State University in the United States, and is a PhD student of Indiana Tech University, also in the United States.