Oluwatosin Omojuyigbe
The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, on
Tuesday at the resumed hearing of a suit challenging his title as the
Oba of Lagos, insisted before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, that he
is the bona fide monarch of Lagos.
Akiolu noted that his being capped as Oba
during his coronation by a representative of the Eletuedibo Family was
not illegal despite that the ceremony was not overseen by Chief
Eletuedibo, who personally caps Obas of Lagos.
“Contrary to claims that in the history
of Lagos, no Oba has been capped by any person other than Chief
Eletuedibo, Oba Adeniji Adele was capped by Chief Gafir who was a member
of the family.
“It was one of the members of Eletuedibo family that capped me,” Akiolu said.
Akiolu’s title is being challenged in a
suit filed by Prince Sammy Adebiyi and Prince Rasheed Modile, asking for
an order of the court to declare null and void the appointment and
installation of Akiolu as the Oba of Lagos.
The claimants noted that under the Oba
of Lagos State Customary Law, only two ruling houses, Akinsemoyin and
Ologunkutere, were entitled to present candidates for enthronement as
the Oba of Lagos.
They were, however, contending that it
was not the turn of the Ologunkutere to produce the Oba after the demise
of Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II.
They argued that since it was the
Ologunkutere Ruling House which produced Oyekan, it was the turn of the
Akinsemoyin Ruling House to produce his successor.
Akiolu is said to have hailed from a branch of the Ologunkutere Ruling House.
Joined as respondents in the suit were
the Governor of Lagos State, the Attorney General of Lagos State, Prince
Babatunde Akitoye and Chief Junaid Eko.
While being cross-examined on Tuesday by
the claimant’s counsel, Mr. Babatunde Fashanu (SAN), Akiolu reasserted
that age-long customs and traditions were followed in his selection as
an Oba.
Responding to claims that he was
elected less than 90 days after the demise of Oyekan which was contrary
to customs, Akiolu insisted that such 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.
Akiolu also disputed the claims of Adebiyi and Modile that he was not a descendant of Oba Ologunkutere.
“Oba Ologunkutere had five children, one
of which was Akiolu, Akintoye was the last child and Akiolu and Olufusi
were the older children.
“Akintoye was three months old when Oba Ologunkutere 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 Ologunkutere,” he said.
When asked by Fashanu to state in order
of seniority, the children of Oba Ologunkutere, Akiolu said, “I don’t
know, I don’t work at the births and deaths registry.
“What is important is that Akiolu is the child of Ologunkutere.
“There have been three members of the
Akiolu family who ran for the Oba of Lagos including one 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 kingmakers to choose who will be king.
“Many are called, few are chosen,” he said.
Akiolu added, “The claimants had wanted to meet me somewhere to sign a document regarding the succession but I refused.
“It is not an individual’s chair; it belongs to the past, present and future.
“All human beings should not hate one another, we are equal in the eyes of God but not equal in our love for God,” Akiolu said.
Justice Samuel Candide-Johnson adjourned till July 5, 6, 2017, for continuation of trial.
PUNCH.