Members of the Sanusi Olawunmi Family of Abule Ado in the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State have raised an alarm over the alleged imposition of Suleiman Surajudeen Aro as Oba of Abule Ado, despite a subsisting court order barring such action.
In a suit filed at the Ikeja Judicial Division of the Lagos State High Court, with suit number ID/2044GCMW/2024, the claimants: Alhaji Rafiu Owolabi Tesilimi, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan Tesilimi, and others brought the matter before Justice M.O. Dawodu. The court ordered that status quo be maintained pending further proceedings.
According to the writ of summons, the claimants are seeking a declaration that the Sanusi Olawunmi Family be recognised alongside the Ado Family as a ruling house with the right to produce the Oba of Ado/Odan Village, based on the native law, custom, and tradition of the Abule Ado community.
The claimants also requested a declaration that the Sanusi Olawunmi Family is entitled to present the next Oba of the Ado/Odan community in accordance with established customs.
Furthermore, they sought an injunction restraining the defendants, including members of the Ado Family or any other family, from presenting any candidate to the Lagos State Government or its agencies, including the Attorney General and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, for approval or appointment as the next Oba of Abule Ado.
The writ, issued by M.B. Jimoh-Akogun Esq. of M.B. Jimoh-Akogun & Co, located at No. 5 Oyetubo Street, Awolowo Way, Ikeja, gave the claimants’ address as Baale Compound, Abule Ado, Lagos.
A motion ex parte dated January 15, 2025, directed that status quo be maintained pending the hearing of a motion for interlocutory injunction filed on October 11, 2024. The matter was adjourned to March 11, 2025, for hearing.
Defendants in the suit include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, Mr. Lawal Pedro; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Kayode Bolaji-Roberts; Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government, Hon. Valentine Buraimoh; Suleiman Surajudeen Aro, and others.
The motion on notice seeks an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, or anyone acting on their behalf, from taking any actions regarding the vacant stool of Abule Ado. Specifically, it bars the recognition or approval of any candidate from the 5th to 8th defendants or any other family as the next Oba, pending final judgment.
It was revealed that counsel for both parties—L.A. Yusuf (for the claimants) and E.O. Adetunji, A.O. Ladipo, and F.O. Lawal (for the defendants)—agreed to maintain status quo until the court rules otherwise.
The matter was later adjourned to May 19, 2025, for the court to hear the motion on notice, which must be determined before the court’s order can be vacated.
Despite the pending legal proceedings, it was alleged that Suleiman Surajudeen Aro was installed as the Oba of Abule Ado by the Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Chairman, allegedly without the knowledge of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the state.
The court’s order stating that there is no recognised Oba in Abule Ado remains in effect until the suit is resolved.
