The Olushi Onigbesa Royal Family has approached the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, over a dispute in the Oshodi traditional stool, alleging that the Lagos State Government is backing rival claimants despite existing judicial decisions referenced in its filings.

The claims are contained in court processes filed by Yaya Oseni Agedegudu and Kabiru Eeyantan on behalf of the family, through their counsel, Omoniyi Akinmola.

Listed as defendants are the Lagos State Governor, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Chairman of Oshodi/Isolo Local Council, Chief Maroofdeen Oshodi and Chief Abdulrasak Oshodi.

The claimants are seeking declarations that they are the family entitled to produce the Oba of Oshodi and an order restraining the state government, its agencies and the rival Oshodi Tapa and Arota families from recognising or installing any other person as traditional ruler.

In response, the Oshodi Tapa Family urged the court to dismiss the suit, describing the claims as lacking merit.

In a statement on oath deposed to by Maroofdeen Oshodi, the defence challenged the claimants’ lineage and entitlement to the stool.

The dispute, however, centres on the recommendation of a Standing Tribunal of Inquiry into Chieftaincy Matters, chaired by Justice A.O. Silva (rtd), which sat between 2005 and 2012 to determine whether the Baaleship of Oshodi should be elevated to an Obaship.

The claimants stated that the tribunal recommended the Olushi Onigbesa Royal family as the family entitled to produce the Oba.

They further stated that attempts by rival families to challenge the recommendation were unsuccessful at various levels of the courts.

The claimants added that approval processes were initiated, including the preparation of a draft chieftaincy declaration and payment of fees, while the Joint Chieftaincy Committee of Oshodi/Isolo Local Government approved the nomination in 2021.

The defence relied on earlier litigation, including suit No. AB/16/1957 and subsequent appellate decisions, to argue that land in Oshodi was granted to the progenitors of the Oshodi Tapa and Arota families as an absolute gift.

It also cited Supreme Court authorities, including Sunmonu Agedegudu v. Sanni Ajenifuja & Others and Dr Rasaki Oshodi & Others v. Yisa Eyifunmi & Another, in support of its position.

The defendants further questioned the validity and effect of the tribunal’s recommendation, contending that it was reached without adequate participation of all relevant families and exceeded its mandate.

They also cited historical records indicating that members of the Oshodi Tapa and Arota families had produced successive Baales of Oshodi from the 19th Century until 2005.

The defence maintained that the claimants had no record of producing a Baale within that period and therefore lacked a basis under customary law to lay claim to the stool.