Kunle Adelabu
The Kosoko Royal Family/Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Family, has expressly stated that the 1983 Registered Declaration guiding the selection process of an Oloja of Lagos within the family, is still subsisting and very much intact.
The royal family also said that there is no court case or ruling on the Declaration.
Alhaja (Chief) Mutiat Ashabi Abimbola Alli-Balogun, Head of King Kosoko Royal Family and the Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Family, and Prince Sikiru Kosoko, General Secretary, in a statement, distanced the family from a press release purportedly issued on behalf of the family on Wednesday 14th December, 2022, titled, ‘Kosoko Chieftaincy Family Dispute Set To Be Resolved By State Government’.
“This is also to call the attention of the authorities and the general public to a letter circulating in the name of the Kosoko Royal Family/Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Family, calling for the ratification of the valid registered declaration, a move contrary to the position of the general family, and without the consent of the head of the family”, the family stated in the statement.
Kosoko family said that the judgment referred to in the said release, did not make any reference to the Registered Declaration of 1983.
“The judgment of the High and Appeal Courts being referred to in the said press release did not, in any simple language, mention or talk about the registered declaration of 1983”, the statement said.
“The judgement of the Appeal Court directed the litigant to go back to the High Court by setting aside the High Court judgment against the litigant.
“The judges, in their judgment, did not, at any point, mention the declaration because that was not the substance taken to the High Court and as such, the Appeal Court cannot give what you did not seek for.
“It is also on record that there is only one Registered Declaration regulating the process of ascending the stool of the Oloja of Lagos, and there are no court cases of any sort against it till date”, the statement further stated.
While stating that the litigant voluntarily withdrew from the matter, Kosoko family also affirmed that the entire family unanimously approved Alhaja (Chief) Mutiat Ashabi Abimbola Alli-Balogun as the head ( Olori Ebi ) of the family.
The family also added that based on the 1983 Declaration, the family also conducted the selection of the new Oloja of Lagos, and concluded it with Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko as the Oloja – elect.
“The litigant in October 2014 on his own, made an official statement not to continue the legal process in the court of law, and the report of inquiry”, Kosoko family Head and Secretary both said.
“The family has approved and unanimously accepted Alhaja (Chief) Mutiat Ashabi Abimbola Alli-Balogun as the head ( Olori Ebi ) of the family, and she is saddled with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the family until there is an Oloja of Lagos in place.
“The issue of the Omo Oye (Oloja of Lagos-elect) has since been concluded by the king makers who have rectified the Omo Oye presented by the next ruling house (Akinsanya Olojo) as expressed in the only registered declaration dated 1983, in person of Prince Abiola Olojo-Kosoko from the Akinsanya Olojo Ruling House. He has since been declared as the Omo Oye-elect for the stool of the Oloja of Lagos.
“The Head and the General Secretary of the King Kosoko Royal Family and the Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Family are, therefore, using this medium to inform the general public and the Lagos State Government of the illegality being put together by some unknown persons to create unrest within the King Kosoko Royal Family/Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Family, and to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere presently being enjoyed within the Ereko, Idumota and Balogun areas of Lagos Island”, the Kosoko Royal family added.
