By Innocent Anaba
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, of the High Court made the order on Thursday, in Suit No. LD/0022PRA/2026, following an ex-parte application filed by three applicants.
The applicants are 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, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Epe Local Government Area, Lekki Local Council Development Area of the state.
Other respondents 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, purportedly forwarded by some of the respondents and said to have nominated the 11th respondent, Ibrahim Saliu, as the Oba-elect of Ise Kingdom.
The applicants had urged 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 the 11th respondent as the Onise of Ise Kingdom in Lekki Local Council Development Area of Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.
They also contended that the purported nomination was allegedly contrary to the provisions of the Obas and Chiefs of Lagos State Law, 2015, and the Registered Declaration regulating the selection of the stool of Onise of Ise.
In granting the interim relief, Justice Sonaike held that the application was meritorious after considering the processes filed and the exhibits attached to the application.
The court particularly noted the applicants’ argument that the subject matter of the suit was “extremely fragile” and susceptible to dissipation, adding that unless the court intervened immediately, there was a substantial likelihood that the res could be dissipated or placed beyond the reach of the court.
The judge further observed that any alteration of the historical and cultural heritage of the people of Ise Kingdom could ultimately render a judgment of the court nugatory and defeat the ends of justice.
Justice Sonaike consequently ordered the first to fifth respondents to refrain from acting on the March 30, letter or from putting into effect any process aimed at appointing the 11th respondent as the Onise of Ise Kingdom pending full compliance with the court’s pre-action protocol.
However, the court made clear that the order was interim in nature.
It directed that the interim injunction would abate after seven days unless renewed by the court.
The court further ordered that the Memorandum of Claim, together with the order, be served on the respondents.
Justice Sonaike fixed August 20, 2026, for report of compliance and continuation of hearing.
Earlier, the court had granted the applicants leave to have their motion heard during the court’s annual long vacation, following an application filed on August 10, 2026.
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