A Lagos High Court has set aside the installation of Idris Adeowo as the Baale of Okegbegun in Ikorodu, Lagos.
Justice Adeniyi Pokanu, who delivered the judgment, held that the installation was wrongful, having been done without lawful authority.
Pokamu also ordered Adeowo to be restrained from further parading himself as Baale of Orija-Okegbegun.
The judge held that the clandestine family meeting purportedly held on December 27, 2020 was wrongful, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.
He further declared that the executive council of the Lambo branch, Oju Egun Lasunwon, Lasunwon Royal Family, Ikorodu Lagos State, under the leadership of Chief Mathew Shodipo, is subsisting and indissoluble by the ultra vires meeting purportedly held on same date.
The claimants in the suit marked 8043GCMW/2021 are; Mathew Shodipo, Olootu of Lambo branch, Lasunwon Royal family; Alhaji Gafar Shokelu, treasurer; Chief Nurudeen Fakomaya, (Baale), Prince Albert Aina, Secretary; Alhaji Solihu Agiri and Prince Jamiu Gbadebo.
The respondents are; Akeem Shodipo, Jimo Mabogaje, Nurudeen Adenuga, Idris Adeowo and Oba Kabir Shotobi (Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Lagos State).
The judge, therefore, declared that Chief Nurudeen Fakomaya was the authentic Baale of Okegbegun, Ikorodu, Lagos State, having been nominated and installed by due process.
He gave an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their counsel, privies or any person acting through or in their stead from further acting unlawfully interrupting the claimants in their day-to-day administrative of the Lambo branch, Oju Egun Lasunwon, Lasunwon Royal Family, Lagos State.
NAN reports that counsel to the claimant, Mr Adefolaju Oloko, prayed the court to award N5 million against the defendants as damages.
Meanwhile, counsel to the defendant, Mr Adebisi Ogundipe, thanked the court for its incisive judgment and prayed the court to order that each party be ordered to bear their respective cost.
Justice Pokanu consequently held, ”I have listened to the submissions of counsel on cost; both the defendants and claimants are of the same family, in order to encourage their peaceful co-existence, I order all parties to bear their respective cost.” (NAN)
