By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lagos state, Bolaji Kayode Robert and others have been dragged to Court for disobedience to court order.
Aside Pedro, Robert, other respondents in the contempt proceeding include: Chairman Amuwo /Odofin LG, Valentine Oluwaseyi Buraimoh allegedly acted in disobedience to court order made on January 15, 2025, over the vacant stool of Abule Ado kingdom.
Justice Mathias Dawodu of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja,had on January 15, 2025, ordered that status quo be maintained pending hearing of interlocutory injunction in a suit filed by the head of Sanusi Olawumi Family of Abule Ado, Amowo Odofin LG,Lagos State, Alhaji Rafiu Owolabi Teslimi and nine others.
The judge granted the order as requested by the claimant after listening to submission of L. A Yusuf from Chambers of M. B Jimoh-Akogun & Co and counsel representing defendants, E. O Olatunji, for 3rd and 4th respondents and O. A Ladipo with F. O Lawal for 7th and 8th defendants, ordered parties to maintain status cuo.
The claimants in the suit marked: ID/2044GCMW/2024, had prayed the court to directs parties in the suit to maintain status quo pending hearing of motion for interlocutory injunction to restrain the defendants from approving anybody for the vacant stool of Abule Ado kingdom.
The counsel had argued that, granting the application request would serve the interest of justice.
However, while waiting for the adjourned date to return to the court for hearing, on May 19, 2025,the defendants allegedly commenced the process of installation of the king in disobedience to court order.
The claimant counsel, Yusuf has therefore, filed form 48, ‘Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court order dated April 8, 2025.
Other claimants in the suit include: Alhaji Taiwo Hassan Tesilimi, Dauda Mojeed Lasisi, Chief Jelili Obanla Lasisi, Alhaji Wasiu Ramon Bisiriyu, Nurain Yinusa Bisiriyu,
Alhaja Lateefat Agbaje, Mr Akeem Agbaje,
Alhaji Jamiu Balogun and Mulikat Balogun suing for and on behalf of themselves and members of Sanusi Olawunmi Family of Abule Ado, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos Stateas first to ninth claimants respectively.
Aside Pedro, Robert and Buraimoh, other respondents include:Chieftaincy Committee Amuwo /Odofin Local Government, Prince Eniola Adeshina Muftau Ado, Babatunde Semi Bakare, Sulaiman Surajudeen Aro and Alhaji Nurudeen Abu as first to eight defendants.
In the claimants motion on notice brought pursuant to Order 42 Rule 1(1) (2) 4(1) and 8 of the High Court Civil Procedure Rules, Yusuf of Chambers of M. B Jimoh-Akogun & Co has asked the court for an order restraining the defendants from recognising or approving the presentation of any staff of office to the 5th to 8th defendants or anybody from the defendants family to be crown.
In support of the motion on notice, a 91 paragraphs affidavit was sworn to by the first claimant,Tesilimi, who averred that the claimants progenitor being the founder and first settler family having been the first Baale and subsequent Baales were from Oteyi Odan.
He posited that the progenitor of Sanusi Olawunmi was never rotated between the claimants and the defendant prior to the inquiry report.
He stated that,”Memorandum of Obaship of Abule Ado of May, 2024, was forwarded to the office of the 14th defendant stating the historical facts and grounds as to why the claimants be allowed to nominate a candidate for the vacant stool of Ado Village.”
The claimants also averred the that in all these legal claims of the claimants’ family with government, individuals and community dwellers one critical point that stood out is that the claimants’ family history, ownership of the land settled upon by Oteyi-Odan, their progenitor himself and Baaleship genology in Abule Ado, have always been protected and upheld by the government and public authorities.
“There is no registered declaration in respect of Abule Ado chieftaincy, hence the court has jurisdiction to make a finding of what the customary law is and apply the law for declaration.
“While awaiting the response of the demands of the claimant in the Memorandum after long period of time, the claimant through his lawyer forwarded memorandum of claimant dated 2nd September, 2024 which were acknowledged after being serve by 1st to 4th defendant while the 5th to 8th defendant refused to acknowledge… “
However, in form 48, it was stated that unless Mr Pedro (SAN), Oba Mobadenle Oyekan, the Chairman of Chietaincy Committee, Amuwo Odofin Local government, Sulaiman Surajudeen Aro, Kayode Bolaji-Roberts and Valentine Oluseyi Buraimoh
immediately obey the court order for status quo, they would be guilty of contempt and would liable to be committed to prison.