HIGH COURT MAINTAINS STATUS QUO IN IWORO OBASHIP DISPUTE AS OBA KOSOKO CONTINUES IN OFFICE

HIGH COURT MAINTAINS STATUS QUO IN IWORO OBASHIP DISPUTE AS OBA KOSOKO CONTINUES IN OFFICE

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The High Court of Lagos State, Badagry Judicial Division, has delivered a judgment in the long-running dispute over the Obaship of Iworo Kingdom, confirming that Oba Oladele Idris Kosoko continues in office following the court’s refusal to grant injunctions removing or restraining him.

The case arose after Prince Karim Babatunde Adedeji, one of the contestants for the Obaship stool challenged Oba Oladele Kosoko’s eligibility.

The defendants included the Governor of Lagos State, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, the Olorunda Local Council Development Area, and other members of the royal family.

The suit was filed jointly by Prince Adedeji and Prince Wale Ewumi, who passed away during the proceedings. The claimants sought declarations that Oladele was not entitled to be approved or installed as Oba, that Prince Adedeji had been duly nominated as Oba, and injunctions restraining Oladele and government authorities from continuing his tenure.

In its judgment, the court stated, “It is the turn of Iga-Igbaji Ruling House to present a Candidate for the stool of Oba of Iworo Chieftaincy in accordance with the Chieftaincy Declaration registered on the 8th of February, 1958.” However, the court ruled that the nomination of the 2nd claimant was not properly established, stating, “The 2nd Claimant having been duly nominated as the New Oba of Iworo by those entitled to do so under the Customary Law of Iworo Kingdom is entitled to be approved and installed as the new Oba of Iworo Kingdom by the 1st – 4th Defendants is not made out and it is hereby refused.”

On the position of Oladele, the court observed, “The 5th Defendant having not been nominated by those entitled to do so under the Customary Law of Iworo Kingdom is not entitled to be approved, appointed and or installed as the new Oba of Iworo Kingdom by the 1st – 4th Defendants.”

Despite these findings, the court declined to remove or restrain him from office, declaring, “Reliefs four and five seeking for Perpetual Injunction is not appropriate in the circumstance of this present case and are hereby refused.”

Reacting to the judgment, the palace, through Comrade Michael Oladele Ajose, Secretary to HRM Oniworo and Director of Media, Publicity & Information, stated, “The palace fully acknowledges and respects the authority of the High Court and its decision. The court recognized certain procedural matters regarding the succession to the Obaship of Iworo Kingdom. However, it refused to remove or prevent the current king, Oba Oladele Kosoko, from continuing in office. Consequently, the palace continues to function as usual, in accordance with the court’s orders.”

The statement urged members of the community and the public to refrain from spreading misinformation or propaganda and to maintain peace, noting that the interest of Iworo Kingdom is best served by respect for tradition and adherence to the law.

Analysts are of the opinion that the judgment secures Oladele’s continued leadership, pointing to the court’s refusal to grant injunctions as a decisive factor. Legal observers note that while the court addressed procedural questions, it avoided disrupting the existing leadership of the kingdom. Traditional affairs analysts also emphasize that the ruling preserves stability and continuity, allowing governance to proceed uninterrupte.