A fresh legal dispute has arisen within the Kosoko royal family of Lagos over the process of filling the vacant Oloja of Lagos stool, with members of one ruling house asking the court to halt what they describe as an unlawful attempt to commence a new nomination process.
The Akinsanya Olojo Ruling House of the Kosoko Royal Family has filed a suit before the Lagos State High Court, challenging moves by certain authorities to invite fresh nominations for the chieftaincy position despite what it claims was an earlier valid selection of a candidate by the recognised kingmakers.
The suit, marked LD/14537GCMW/2026, was filed by Surajudeen Olojo-Kosoko, the head of the Akinsanya Olojo Ruling House, and another claimant against the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, alongside six other defendants.
In a notice issued to Babatunde Abiodun, officials of the Lagos Island Local Government and other authorities involved in the chieftaincy process, the claimants stated that no steps should be taken toward the appointment or installation of a new Oloja pending the determination of the suit.
Counsel for the claimants, Olusegun Fabunmi (SAN), explained that the action became necessary following what he described as the failure of the appointing and consenting authorities to recognise the earlier nomination of Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko for the stool.
Fabunmi said the ruling house was surprised to receive a letter dated March 3, 2026, from the Lagos Island Local Government requesting the Kosoko royal family to nominate a preferred candidate between Prince AbdulRafiu Babajide Akanni Kosoko and Prince Mukaila Olanrewaju Kosoko for the vacant stool.
“The letter from the Lagos Island Local Government was sequel to a correspondence from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice dated February 20, 2026, which in turn referenced a letter from the Oba of Lagos concerning the nomination of the two princes,” the lawyer said.
He added that the request ignored an earlier nomination exercise allegedly conducted in accordance with the Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Family Declaration of 1983, under which Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko was said to have emerged as the selected candidate.
According to Fabunmi, the nine kingmakers representing the ruling houses unanimously voted in favour of Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko on December 12, 2020.
“The kingmakers, acting in line with the 1983 registered declaration, screened the eligible princes and unanimously elected Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko as the candidate of the Akinsanya Olojo Ruling House,” he stated.
Fabunmi further said that the nomination was subsequently presented to members of the Kosoko royal family at King Kosoko Palace on Ereko Street, Lagos Island, on December 31, 2020.
He added that following the presentation, “the traditional and administrative processes leading to his installation commenced in 2021 after the candidate fulfilled the requirements stipulated under the Lagos State Obas and Chiefs Law.”
In the originating processes before the court, the claimants are seeking a declaration that under the 1983 registered declaration governing the stool, it is the exclusive turn of the Akinsanya Olojo Ruling House to produce the next Oloja of Lagos.
They are also asking the court to declare that Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko, having been screened and declared elected by the kingmakers, is the lawful nominee and heir to the chieftaincy stool.
Fabunmi disclosed that the claimants had also filed an application for an interlocutory injunction seeking to restrain the defendants and relevant authorities from taking further steps in respect of the disputed chieftaincy process pending the determination of the suit.
“Our clients have approached the court to ensure that the rule of law is respected and that the due process already undertaken is not set aside,” he said.
He further urged government agencies and individuals connected with the appointment process, including the Lagos Island Local Government, to refrain from taking actions capable of prejudicing the subject matter of the pending litigation.
Fabunmi cited the decision of the Supreme Court in Military Governor of Lagos State v. Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (1986), noting that the apex court had established that parties must refrain from resorting to self-help once a dispute has been submitted for judicial determination.
“Once a matter is before the court, all parties are expected to maintain the status quo and allow the court to determine the issues in controversy,” he said.
The court processes, according to the claimants, have been served on the Lagos State Attorney-General, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Oba of Lagos, and other parties connected to the dispute.
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