By Henry Ojelu

Justice Babajide Candide-Johnson of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja yesterday dismissed a suit seeking to dethrone Oba Rilwan Akiolu.

Two members of the Lagos ruling house, Prince Sammy Adebiyi and Prince Rasheed Modile had filed a suit in 2017 asking the court to declare that Akiolu’s appointment and installation as the Oba of Lagos was null and void.

Messrs Adebiyi and Modile are claiming that Mr. Akiolu is not entitled to the throne because he is not a member of a royal family by not being a direct descendant of Oba Ado, the first Oba of Lagos.

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According to the claimants, only members of the Ologun Kutere and Akinsemoyin ruling houses are entitled to the throne. They also alleged that proper customary rules and procedures were not followed when he was appointed as Oba in May 2003.

But delivering judgment in the matter yesterday Justice Candide-Johnson held that the court lacked the powers to upturn the long established custom of over 200 years for enthroning the Oba of Lagos.

Justice Candide-Johnson held that where a statute has given jurisdiction to tribunal to adjudicate on, the high court shall only assume a supervisory role.