Lagos court restrains government over Onise of Ise selection process

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Lagos has granted an injunction restraining the Lagos State government and other respondents from taking further steps towards recognising or installing a purported Oba-elect of Ise Kingdom in Epe Local Government Area of the state. Trial judge, Justice S. Sonaike, made the crucial order in Suit No. LD/0022PRA/2026, following a compelling ex-parte application filed by three concerned applicants. The legal action puts a temporary halt to executive and traditional procedures surrounding the disputed stool pending further judicial deliberations.

The applicants before the court are Alhaji Adeniyi Atere, Mrs. Idowu Lana representing the Okouye Ruling House of Igbekodo Quarters in Ise Town, and Mr. Babatunde Lana, also known as Babatunde Esulana. Conversely, the respondents span major state organs including the Governor of Lagos State, the Attorney-General, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, alongside Epe Local Government and Lekki Local Council Development Area. Private individuals joined in the suit comprise traditional titleholders and the disputed nominee, Ibrahim Saliu.

The bitter dispute fundamentally centres on a controversial letter dated March 30, 2026, which was allegedly forwarded by certain respondents to nominate the 11th respondent, Ibrahim Saliu, as the legitimate Oba-elect of Ise Kingdom. According to court filings, the applicants strongly urged the judiciary to restrain state agents from acting on this document or continuing any administrative process aimed at enthroning Saliu. They contended that the purported nomination blatantly violated the provisions of the Obas and Chiefs of Lagos State Law, 2015, alongside the authentic Registered Declaration governing the stool.

In granting the interim relief, Justice Sonaike explicitly held that the application possessed sufficient merit after carefully weighing the processes filed and attached exhibits. The court noted the applicants' poignant argument that the subject matter of the suit was extremely fragile and susceptible to irreversible dissipation if left unchecked. Justice Sonaike observed that any unilateral alteration of the historical and cultural heritage of the people of Ise Kingdom could ultimately render a substantive judgment nugatory and defeat the ends of justice.

Consequently, the court ordered the first to fifth respondents to refrain from acting on the March 30 letter or implementing any appointment process pending compliance with pre-action protocols. However, the court clarified that the injunction is strictly interim in nature and will automatically abate after seven days unless expressly renewed. Justice Sonaike further ordered service of the processes on all respondents and fixed August 20, 2026, for the report of compliance and continuation of the hearing.