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The legal battle over the Onise of Ise stool in Lagos State has taken a fresh turn, with contempt proceedings initiated against Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu, whose installation as the Onise was recently nullified by the Lagos State High Court.
The development followed a September 11, 2026 order by Justice Yetunde Adesola Adesanya in Suit No. LD/0022PRA/2026, directing the Lagos State Government to withdraw the appointment and recognition granted to Saliu and setting aside his installation and coronation conducted on August 21.
The court also ordered Saliu to stop parading himself or holding himself out as the Onise of Ise pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The fresh contempt proceedings are contained in documents made available by counsel to the claimants, The Legal Hub Partnership, which represents members of the Okuoye Ruling House, Igbekodo Quarters, Ise Town.
A Form 48 notice dated September 15 was issued against Saliu, warning him of the consequences of alleged disobedience of the court’s orders.
Similar notices were issued to the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Yekini Lanre Agbaje; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mrs Kikelomo Bolarinwa.
The notices relate to the orders made by the court in the ongoing chieftaincy dispute and warn that continued failure to comply could result in contempt proceedings and other legal consequences.
In the September 11 ruling, Justice Adesanya ordered the withdrawal of the instrument of appointment issued to Saliu and nullified the installation and coronation conducted on August 21.
The court further restrained him from presenting himself as the Onise of Ise Kingdom while the substantive case remains pending.
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Following the ruling, The Legal Hub Partnership, in a letter dated September 15 and addressed to the Lagos State Government, formally drew the authorities’ attention to the court’s orders and urged compliance.
The law firm specifically asked the government not to recognise Saliu or accord him the official status, rights or privileges attached to the Onise stool unless and until a competent court makes a contrary order.
The latest development stems from a dispute over the process through which Saliu emerged as the Onise of Ise.
The claimants, Alhaji Adeniyi Atere, Idowu Adebisi Lana and Babatunde Ekundayo Lana, instituted the suit for themselves and on behalf of the Okuoye Ruling House.
The September 11 ruling held that an earlier interim order issued on August 13 had been breached when the disputed installation proceeded on August 21.
The court consequently granted mandatory orders directing the reversal of the installation and withdrawal of the instruments of office.
However, the court made clear that its orders were interim in nature and would remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The underlying dispute over who is legally entitled to occupy the Onise of Ise stool therefore remains before the court, even as the latest contempt proceedings introduce a separate legal issue concerning compliance with its orders.
