Court restrains Ambode, others from installing Oba

Justice W. Animahun of Lagos High Court, Igbosere has restrained the Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, from installing Murisiku Fasinro as the Oloto off Oto pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice brought before the court.

In a motion ex parte brought pursuant to order38 rule 1 and order 39 rule 3 of the High Court of Lagos state (Civil Procedure) Rules 2012 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court, the claimants lawyer, Mr. Adenrele Adegborioye from Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN chambers sought the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants either by themselves or through their privies, agents, servants, representatives or any persons whomsoever acting for them or on their behalf from appointing, electing, selecting, nominating, presenting, approving and or installing Murisiku Fasinro i.e. !st defendant herein or any other person whosoever except the 3rd claimant as the Oba elect or the Oloto of Oto pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed in this suit.

Besides, the claimants sought the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendant from parading himselff or holding himself out to the general public as the Oba elect or Oloto of Oto and Mainland pending the determination of the motion on notice filed in this suit.

The claimants are:Chief Muhammed  Akinola, Prince Wahab Odeh, Babatunde Shittu, Dr. Akinlade Taofik and Lamariyu Sanusi Oloto.

Sued are: Murisiku Fasinro, Alhaji H.A. Fasinro, H.R.M. Oba Abdulfatai Aromire, the sole administrator Lagos Mainland Local Government, the Honorable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lagos state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and the Governor of Lagos State.

The Court held that “there is evidence in the letter dated 02/11/2016 that the 1st defendant has been picked as a candidate for the stool. What the court can therefore restrain is the approval of his appointment and his installation. It is my view that there are serious issues to be tried in this case. Consequently, the defendants are hereby restrained from taking further actions on the letter dated 02/11/2016.”

The claimants through their lawyer had approached the court to declare that the Olori-Iddo branch of the Baalo Ruling House of Oloto Royal family of Oto and Mainland is the branch/Ruling House to present a candidate for the vacant stool of Oloto of Oto and Mainland

Specifically, they sought the court for an order declaring that the 3rd Claimant herein being the candidate from the Olori-Iddo branch of the Baalo Ruling House of the Oloto Royal family of Oto is the person entitled to be nominated to occupy the vacant stool Oloto of Oto and Mainland.

An order of Court directing the 3rd to 7th Defendants to approve the appointment of the 3rd Claimant, Mr. Babatunde Adedapo Shittu as the person to occupy the vacant stool of Oloto of Oto and Mainland having been duly appointed and nominated by the Olori-Iddo branch of the Baalo Ruling House of the Oloto Royal family of Oto and Mainland.

An order of court directing the 3rd to 7th Defendants to gazette the approval of the 3rd Claimant as the Oba elect for the position of Oloto of Oto into the Lagos State Official Gazette as well as facilitating the official installation and giving the staff of office to the 3rd Claimant as the Oba elect for the position of the Oloto of Oto and Mainland.

An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants herein, their agents, privies, servants, representatives, and anybody whosoever acting on their behalf from electing, selecting, appointing, nominating, approving and/or installing the 1st Defendant or any other person whatsoever except the 3rd Claimant as the Oba elect or the Oloto of Oto and Mainland.

An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st Defendant from parading himself or holding himself out to the general public as the Oba elect or Oloto of Oto and Mainland.

An order of Court setting aside or nullifying any process already put in place by the Defendants towards electing, selecting, appointing, nominating, approving and/or installing the 1st Defendant or any other person except the 3rd Claimant as the Oba elect or Oloto of Oto and Mainland.