Trial continues at a Lagos High Court presided over by Justice Ezekiel Oluwole Ashade in a suit filed by Prince Jimmy Adetokunbo Yekini-Goloba challenging the installation of Prince Isa Abiodun Sekoni-Faronbi as the Osolo of Isolo.
In the suit No: LD/13362GCM/2025, Prince Yekini-Goloba is seeking amongst other reliefs, “a declaration that the Alagbeji Ruling House is next in line to produce the new Osolo of Isolo pursuant to the Registered Declaration under the Chiefs Law (Cap 19) of the Revised Law of Western Nigeria, 1962, as adopted, in Lagos.
“A declaration that the claimant, having been duly selected and nominated by the Alagbeji Ruling House and approved by the Kingmakers, is the rightful person to be appointed and installed as the new Osolo.
“An order restraining the State and Local Government authorities from recognising Shekoni-Faronbi as monarch or disregarding the decision of the Alagbeji Ruling House.”
When the consolidated case was called on Friday, October 16, counsel to the seventh defendant, Adeola Onikosi, recalled two of the witnesses who earlier gave testimonies in the court for cross examination.
First to take the witness stand was Alhaji Mukaila Agbabiaka, who, as a Muslim, took the oath with the Qur’an. He told the court that he became a Kingmaker with the title of Jagun Aluko on December 24, 2022.
He said that there were three other kingmakers in Isolo, and gave their names as Chief Rahman Musendiku Inufele (Afobaje Ogodo), Chief Rasak Onikosi (Osuro), and Chief Jamiu Saka (Omotoba).
When the counsel asked who the most senior amongst them was, he replied that it was Chief Rahman Musendiku Inufele (Afobaje Ogodo), who became a kingmaker in Isolo town in 1994.
He told the court that each of the Kingmakers has a vote each, and that two of them – himself and Chief Rasak Onikosi voted for Prince Jimmy Adetokunbo Yekini-Goloba as the next Osolo of Isolo, while Chief Rahman Musendiku voted for Prince Saheed Aregbe, and Chief Jamiu Saka voted for Prince Shekoni-Faronbi.
When asked by the counsel if there is any other method of picking an Oba in Osolo, the witness mentioned through Ifa divination.
Counsel asked the witness if he was aware of a letter written on August 27, 2024, addressed to the Oshodi/Isolo Local Government and he answered that he was not aware of such a letter.
The second witness recalled for cross examination was Honourable Hakeem Muniru, who headed a committee set up by the Alagbeji ruling House to screen Princes from the ruling house vying for the Osolo crown.
Counsel asked Honorable Muniru who gave him the authority to screen the candidates and he said that the entire Alagbeji ruling house met and gave his committee the mandate to screen all the candidates from the ruling house vying for the throne.
Counsel also asked him if the committee he headed also screened and cleared the first defendant in the case and he answered in the affirmative.
Justice Ashade later adjourned the suit till October 23, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.
