In a significant ruling, a Lagos High Court situated in Ikorodu has invalidated the appointment of Idris Adeowo as the Baale of Orija-Okegbegun in Ikorodu, Lagos, deeming it unauthorized and wrongful.
Justice Adeniyi Pokanu, presiding over the case, firmly established that the defendant is prohibited from continuing to present himself as the Baale of Orija-Okegbegun.
Furthermore, the judge decreed that the secretive family meeting, purportedly convened by four of the defendants on December 27, 2020, along with the entire resolutions emanating from it, which were communicated to the fifth defendant, are hereby declared null, void, and entirely without effect.
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 some 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, Jimoh Mabogaje, Nurudeen Adenuga, Idris Adeowo and Oba Kabir Shotobi(Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Lagos State)
The judge, therefore, declared that Chief Nurudeen Oseni Fakomaya is 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.
It was reported that the counsel to the claimants Mr Adefolaju Oloko, prayed the court to award N5million against the defendants as damages.
Meanwhile, counsel to the defendant Mr Adebisi Ogundipe, thanked the court for its incisive judgement but prayed the court that each party be ordered to bear their respective cost.
Justice Pokanu consequently, ” 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.”
