By Chinelo Obogo
The Onikoyi family of Lagos has declared that the installation of Prince Adekunke Fafunwa as the Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Mobaland, was a violation of the chieftaincy declaration and the laws of Lagos State.
Addressing journalists in Lagos, the aggrieved family said after the stool became vacant in 2023, following the demise of Oba Patrick Onikoyi, the families selected Prince Omogbolahan from the Ojulari family as the candidate and it was agreed upon by all the branches of the Onikoyi royal family that he would be the next Onikoyi of Ikoyi and Mobaland.
The family head, Otunba A.G.K Onikoyi, who spoke on behalf of the family, told reporters that after the families had chosen Omogbolahan, the Chairman of Eti -Osa Local Government Area, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu were informed of the decision and letters were sent to the appropriate authorities, including the family lawyer.
He also said the family instructed their lawyer to file an action seeking for an order of mandamus directing the Lagos State Government to act in accordance with the law by confirming the selected candidate of the family; a suit that is pending before Justice Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court. He urged Gov Sanwo-Olu to ensure fairness and not deprive the rightful branch of their entitlement by jettisoning the law of the state and the chieftaincy declaration. He said: “By the judgment of the Lagos State high Court delivered on July 3, in suit No: LD/2434GCMW/2016, the purported Chief in Council appointed by the late Oba Patrick Fafunwa Onikoyi has been declared null and void and the appointment has been set aside, hence, anyone holding out himself/herself as Chief -in-Council is in disobedient to the judgment of the court.
“The Onikoyi family is of the view that the facts of the entire case must have been misrepresented to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the family is pleading with the Governor not to allow illegality to be enthroned in the place of truth, justice and equity.”
Efforts to get the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bolaji Robert, was unsuccessful.
