The Lagos State High Court has restrained the Lagos State Government and other respondents from taking further steps towards recognising or installing Ibrahim Saliu as the purported Oba-elect and Onise of Ise Kingdom in Epe Local Government Area of the state.
Justice S. Sonaike made the interim order on Thursday in Suit No. LD/0022PRA/2026 following an ex-parte application brought by Alhaji Adeniyi Atere; Mrs Idowu Lana, for herself and on behalf of the Okouye Ruling House, Igbekodo Quarters, Ise Town, Lekki; and Mr Babatunde Lana, also known as Babatunde Esulana.
The respondents include the Governor of Lagos State; Attorney-General of Lagos State; Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development; Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development; Epe Local Government Area; and Lekki Local Council Development Area.
Others joined in the suit are Chief Balogun Aramide Arashi, Aro of Ise Kingdom; Balogun Akeem Adebomehin; Aliu Tiamiyu Akanni; Olayinka Akintoye; and Ibrahim Saliu.
The dispute centres on a letter dated March 30, 2026, allegedly forwarded by some of the respondents and purportedly nominating Saliu as the Oba-elect of Ise Kingdom.
The applicants asked the court to restrain the first to fifth respondents, their agents, servants, officers or privies from acting on the letter or continuing any process aimed at appointing Saliu as the Onise of Ise Kingdom in Lekki LCDA of Epe Local Government Area.
They contended that the purported nomination was contrary to the provisions of the Obas and Chiefs of Lagos State Law, 2015, as well as the Registered Declaration governing the selection and appointment to the stool of Onise of Ise.
Ruling on the application, Justice Sonaike held that the request for interim protection was meritorious after considering the processes filed and accompanying exhibits.
The court noted the applicants’ argument that the subject matter of the litigation was “extremely fragile” and capable of being dissipated unless immediate steps were taken to preserve it pending further proceedings.
Justice Sonaike observed that any alteration to the historical and cultural heritage connected with the traditional stool could potentially defeat the purpose of the substantive action and render the eventual judgment of the court nugatory.
The court consequently restrained the first to fifth respondents from acting on the March 30 letter or implementing any process aimed at appointing Saliu as the Onise of Ise Kingdom pending full compliance with the court’s pre-action protocol.
Justice Sonaike, however, made clear that the injunction was interim and would lapse after seven days unless renewed by the court.
The court further directed that the Memorandum of Claim together with the interim order be served on the respondents.
The matter was adjourned to August 20, 2026, for report of compliance and continuation of proceedings.
The court had earlier granted the applicants leave to have their application heard during the judiciary’s annual long vacation following a motion filed on August 10, 2026.
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