Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos on Monday told an Ikeja High Court that he is the bona fide paramount ruler of Lagos.
The monarch appeared before Justice A. Candide-Johnson over a case filed by Princes Adedoyin Adebiyi and Rasheed Modile, challenging his ascendancy to the throne.
He was accompanied by 10 white cap chiefs,
“I am here to justify my appointment, you cannot build something on nothing, it will be broken. By native law and customs and by law, I am the bona fide Oba of Lagos,” he said.
Joined as respondents in the suit are the Lagos State governor, attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Prince Babatunde Akitoye and Chief Junaid Eko.
Adebiyi and Modile are claiming that Akiolu is ineligible to be king because he is not a member of any royal family and a direct descendant of Oba Ado, the first Oba of Lagos.
According to the claimants, only members of the Ologun Kutere and Akinsemoyin ruling houses are entitled to the throne.
They alleged that proper customary rules and procedures were not followed when Akiolu was appointed as Oba in May 2003.
Led in evidence by his lawyer, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, Akiolu narrated the procedure he followed before being installed.
“After I made my intention known to my family that I wanted to be Oba of Lagos, I applied for the throne. In May 2003, the head of the kingmakers and the then Sole Administrator of Lagos Island Council called at my residence. At that time I was preparing to go to the mosque and I was told that I received a letter from the state government and the State Executive Council.
“The letter accepted my nomination that I have been approved to be a worthy successor of the late Oba of Lagos. It will be exactly 14 years tomorrow (May 23) that my appointment was approved. By the grace of Almighty Allah, there is nothing like rotation in the succession to the throne of Oba of Lagos,” Akiolu said.
Before cross-examining Akiolu, the claimants’ counsel, Mr Babatunde Fashanu (SAN), applied that Akiolu should be addressed as the defendant and not the Oba of Lagos for the purpose of the case.
The court did not grant the request.
Responding to Fashanu’s question whether proper customary procedure was followed when he became King, Akiolu said he was installed according to the customs of Lagos as Oba by kingmakers.
“Akiolu is a direct descendant of Oba Ologun Kutere, there is no registered declaration for the throne.
“It is the old customs and the recommendations of the Price Commission which is over 100 years ago that is still valid till today.”
Akiolu also debunked claims that the Akiolu royal family is not one of the ruling houses because it is non-existent.
He said: “Despite the letter from the Lagos State Government confirming my appointment as Oba and stating that I am from the Akiolu royal family, I want to make it clear that a royal family and ruling house means the same thing. My appointment as the king is the first time in history that kingmakers will be unanimous in selecting an Oba of Lagos.”
Justice Candide-Johnson adjourned till June 19.
