Admin l Monday, May 22, 2017
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos is currently under fire.
The Oba who has who has been very controversial in recent times stood in the Witness box for over three hours trying to convince Justice Candide Johnson why he is the right person to occupy the throne.
The Oba who has occupied the royal seat for 14 years was taken to court in 2012 by Prince Sammy Adebiyi and Prince Rasheed Mosilekun who believe that the process that produced him as king was fraudulent.
According to them, the 90 days interval between the death of an Oba and the selection of another, rotation of the kingship among members of the royal family, and the existence of a registered declaration for the stool of Lagos was not maintained.
Oba Akiolu, in his defense, stated that the 90-day interval rule was a fallacy and has never existed since his predecessor, Oba Dosunmu was appointed a day after the demise of Oba Akintoye.
According to him, the alleged rotation was inexistent and that at the demise of an Oba, all interested princes with traces of royal blood would apply to the Kingmakers for consideration and appointment.
The retired lawyer and former Assistant Inspector General of police, Oba Akiolu further stated that following the death of the first crowned king of Lagos; Oba Ado, his two sons, Prince Ologuntere and Prince Akintoye were to wrest the position of Kingship.
But that due to some customary reasons and fallouts, the position of Kingship was given to the lineage of the Ologuntare’s who produced 6 royal families, of which the Akiolu royal family is the 4th.
More drama unfold when it was revealed that the Akiolu family stopped contesting kingship long ago as the lineage was believed to have been extinct.
It was also revealed that Oba Akiolu had an elder brother who bore Akinolu as surname instead of Akiolu. His younger brother was also admitted by the Oba to be known as Tajudeen Akinolu.
The prosecuting counsel went further to claim that Oba Akiolu applied into the police force as Rilwan Akinolu and not Akiolu, prompting suggestions that he is not a member of the original Akiolu family.
He further stated in his cross examination that the Oba in his desperation to attain the seat, attended a tribunal in 1974 which was to determine if descendants of Prince Akintoye are entitled to the kingship.
He also broke protocol by submitting his application directly to the King makers instead of through the customary third party. The matter was adjourned till 19th, 20th of June, 5th, 6th and 11th of July for continuation of trial.
