Lagos Prince Drags Government to Court Over Disputed Osolo Throne, Seeks N50m

Wale Igbintade 

A fresh legal tussle over the rightful occupant of the Osolo of Isolo throne has emerged at the Lagos State High Court, where Prince Jimmy Adetokunbo Yekini-Goloba has sued the Lagos State Government and others, challenging what he describes as the unlawful installation of Prince Isa Abiodun Shekoni-Faronbi as the traditional ruler of Isolo.

In the suit marked LD/13362/2005, Yekini-Goloba seeks a court declaration affirming him as the rightful successor to the throne based on the rotational arrangement among the three ruling houses in Isolo and the decision of the Alagbeji Ruling House, which he claims is next in line to produce the monarch.

The defendants include Prince Shekoni-Faronbi, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Chieftaincy Committee of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, and the Executive Chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government.

Represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Olarenwaju Fagbohun, the claimant is asking the court to nullify the nomination, approval, and installation of Shekoni-Faronbi and to compel the state government to recognize and install him as the new Osolo.

Yekini-Goloba claims that following the death of the late Oba Kabiru Alani Adelaja Agbabiaka (Adeola Olushi III) in April 2024, the Alagbeji Ruling House rightfully selected him as their candidate through a transparent voting process and in accordance with Ifa consultation.

He also asserts lineage to all three recognised ruling houses, Alagbeji, Okota, and Adeola — and argued that Shekoni-Faronbi’s appointment defied tradition and was made while a related suit was still pending in court.

He is also seeking an order compelling the withdrawal of all instruments of office, including the staff of office, from Shekoni-Faronbi and an award of N50 million as the cost of litigation.

Among the specific reliefs sought are: “A declaration that the Alagbeji Ruling House is next in line to produce the new Osolo of Isolo pursuant to the Registered Declaration under the Chiefs Law (Cap 19) of the Revised Law of Western Nigeria, 1962, as adopted in Lagos.

“A declaration that the claimant, having been duly selected and nominated by the Alagbeji Ruling House and approved by the Kingmakers, is the rightful person to be appointed and installed as the new Osolo.

“An order restraining the state and local government authorities from recognizing Shekoni-Faronbi as monarch or disregarding the decision of the Alagbeji Ruling House.