The Lagos State High Court has directed all parties involved in the dispute over the Oloja of Lagos chieftaincy stool to maintain the existing situation until the substantive case is determined.
Justice Olalekan Oresanya issued the order after dismissing a preliminary objection filed by Prince Babajide Kosoko, who had challenged the court’s authority to hear the matter. The objection was backed by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.
The suit was instituted by the Head of the Akinsanya Olojo-Kosoko Ruling House, Prince Surajudeen Olojo-Kosoko; the ruling house’s General Secretary, Prince Theophilus Olojo-Kosoko; and Prince Abiola Kosoko, acting on behalf of themselves and the Akinsanya Olojo-Kosoko Ruling House.
Named as defendants are Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, the Executive Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government, Prince Babajide Kosoko, Mr Muritala Kosoko and Mr Tunji Kosoko.
Represented by Olusegun Fabunmi (SAN), the claimants are challenging what they described as attempts to replace Prince Abiola Kosoko, whom they maintain was validly nominated by the Akinsanya Olojo Ruling House for the Oloja of Lagos stool.
Prince Babajide Kosoko’s counsel, Dayo Oshodi (SAN), had argued that the dispute centred on the nomination, selection and installation of a traditional ruler, matters he said fall under customary law and the Lagos State Obas and Chiefs Law. He urged the court to strike out the suit on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction.
The claimants, however, maintained that the nomination process had been concluded in 2020 when Prince Abiola Kosoko emerged as the ruling house’s candidate. They alleged that following a disagreement over land, some of the defendants disregarded that nomination and began promoting the candidacy of other princes.
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In his ruling, Justice Oresanya held that the claimants had presented a valid cause of action that deserved to be heard by the court.
He stated that the issues raised in the objection could not be decided at the preliminary stage because they required evidence to be properly determined during the main trial.
“I find no merit in the preliminary objection filed by the fifth defendant. The objection is overruled, and the application is accordingly dismissed,” the judge ruled.
The court also declined the claimants’ request for an interlocutory injunction seeking to restrain the defendants from recommending, nominating, selecting, appointing or installing another person as Oloja of Lagos while the case is pending.
Justice Oresanya ruled that granting such an order would amount to deciding issues that form part of the substantive suit and could unfairly prejudice the defendants before the trial.
Instead, he directed all parties to preserve the situation that existed before the events leading to the alleged nomination of the fifth and sixth defendants.
The court further affirmed that Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko remains the Oloja-elect pending the final determination of the case and ordered that the matter be given an accelerated hearing.
The suit was adjourned until October 6, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive case.