A High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, has stopped the Lagos State Government from installing the new Olu of Iwaya.
Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi also restrained one Sulaiman Ogun-Oloko from parading himself as Olu of Iwaya Kingdom or acting in the office of the Olu of Iwaya Kingdom pending the determination of suit No LD/7218GCMW/2020.
The suit was instituted by Ramon Rufai Ogo-Oluwa Aromire, the Olu of Iwaya elect by Oloto Royal Family Ruling House of Iwaya Kingdom; Adelani Onitolo; Oluwole Onitolo and Rufai Kolawole Babatunde.
Listed as defendants in the suit include the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Lagos State; Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, the chairmen of Lagos Mainland and Yaba Local Council Development Area and Sulaimon Ogun-Oloko.
Following a motion exparte, heard on Thursday, August 24, 2023 before Justice Ogunjobi, the court granted leave to the applicant, Ramon Rufai Ogo-Oluwa Aromire to apply, by way of judicial review, for declaration of the court setting aside the purported installation and or recognition of one Sulaiman Ogun-Oloko as the Olu of Iwaya Kingdom.
Sulaiman Ogun-Oloko who has been parading himself as Olu of Iwaya is expected to receive staff of the office on Saturday, August 27, 2023.
Reports revealed that the Obaship battle has been a legal matter before the court for the past two years before Justice Ogunjobi granted the injunction on Thursday to stop Ogun-Oloko from receiving the staff of the office.
Justice Ogunjobi set aside the purported installation and or, recognition of Sulaimon Ogun-Oloko by the Lagos state government whether on 25 May 2023 or 27 May 2023 as the Olu of Iwaya Kingdom and during the pendency of the suit or risk being in contemptuous of the court.
The court also issued an order of mandamus mandating the governor and other defendants to ensure that the stool of Iwaya, being the res in the suit, be restored to status quo preceding May 25, 2023, pending determination of suit LD/7218/GCMW/2020.
The judge fixed 19 September 2023 for the hearing of the case.
