I am a direct descendant of Akiolu Ologun Kutere”- Oba of Lagos

The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has insisted before an Ikeja High Court, that he is the rightfully elected monarch of Lagos. He was speaking

at the resumed hearing of a suit challenging his title

Oba Akiolu citing historical sources told the court that he is the bona fide monarch of the state. Akiolu’s title is being challenged by Prince Adedoyin Adebiyi and Prince Rasheed Modile who are both of the Akinsemoyin Ruling House of Lagos.

Both Adebiyi and Modile were candidates chosen by the Akinsemoyin Ruling House to contest the Obaship title in 2003 after the demise of Oba Adeyinka Oyekan, the then Oba of Lagos in 2003.

But they lost the race to become Oba of Lagos to

 Akiolu whom they alleged has no rightful claim to the throne.

 Also joined as respondents in the suit are the state

 Governor, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Prince Awobade Pearse, a representative of the Ologun Kutere Ruling House and Chief J.J Junaid – Eko, the head of the traditional white cap chiefs of Lagos.

 Other respondents include Prince Kola Balogun

 and Mr Musibau Kelani, who are the respectively the Head and Secretary of the Eshilokun royal family.

 While being cross examined on Today

 by Mr Babatunde Fashanu (SAN), Akiolu reasserted that age long traditional customs and that traditions were followed in his selection as an Oba.

 Responding further to claims that he was elected less than 90-days after the demise of Oyekan which is contrary to their customs, Akiolu said that such a rule was non existent.

“There have been 21 Obas of Lagos before the

 Late Oba Oyekan, in the history of Lagos State selection of Obas, there is no 90-day rule”. “By the grace of God, I am a lawyer, I am duty bound to speak the truth, I have a duty to assist the court”.

“The 90-day rule does not exist in the selection of Obas,” he said. Akiolu also disputed the claims of Adebiyi and Modile that he was not a direct descendant of Oba Ologun Kutere, a former Oba of Lagos who reigned from the late 1700s to the early 1800s.

“Oba Ologun Kutere had five children, one of

which was Akiolu.  Akintoye was the last child and

 Akiolu and Olusi were the older children.

 “Akintoye was three months old when Oba

 Ologun Kutere died, I don’t know how old Akiolu was when his father died. By the grace of God, I am a direct descendant of Akiolu Ologun Kutere”. 

 When asked by Fashanu to state in order of

 Seniority, the children of Oba Ologun Kutere, Akiolu retorted “I don’t know, I don’t work at the births and deaths registry.

“What is important is that Akiolu is the child of Ologun Kutere.”There have been three members of the Akiolu family who ran for the Oba of Lagos including an Akiolu family member known as Baba Ita-Ado, I can’t remember when he ran and I cannot tell lies.

 “All Lagos princes who have no curse placed on

 them are entitled to run for the kingship, it is however the prerogative of the king makers to choose who will be king.

“Many are called, few are chosen,” he

 said. Akiolu noted that his being capped as Oba

 during his coronation ceremony by a representative of the Eleboro family was not illegal despite the ceremony not overseen Chief Eleboro, who personally caps Obas of Lagos.

“Contrary to claims that in the history of

 Lagos, no Oba has been capped by any person other than Chief Eleboro, Oba Adeniji Adele was capped by Chief Gafir.

 “The Eleboro family capped me,” he said.

 Akiolu denied holding grudges against individuals

 who he allegedly disliked by preventing them from succeeding him as the monarch in future.

 “The claimants had wanted to meet me somewhere

 to sign a document regarding the succession but I

 refused. “It is not an individual chair, it belongs to

 the past, present and future.

 “All human beings should not hate each other, we are equal in the eyes of God but not equal in our love for God,” Akiolu said.

The matter was adjourned to July 5,2017