There was wild jubilation in Odo Nla town and across Ikorodu, Lagos metropolis, on Friday, May 12, 2023, as Justice A.F Pokanu of Ikorodu High Court, granted the prayers of Odeyemi Ofinran royal family in suit IKD/4685MJR/2023, filed by the family’s attorney, Lukman Ogunsetan of of PP Ogunsetan & Co, which sought “An order granting leave to the Applicants for an “Order of Mandamus to compel the Respondents to perform their legal or statutory duties of taking further or necessary steps towards the conduct of an inquiry into the Applicants’ proposal for the resuscitation of the Obaship Stool of Odo-Nla Town in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State, as the Respondents are mandated to do by Sections 24 and 25 (1) & (2) of the Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State Ch.02 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
The courtroom filled with Odo-Nla youths and community leaders, erupted with excitement when the Judge gave the ruling. The excitement was contagious.
For allegedly refusing to perform their legal and statutory duties, the royal family of Odeyemi Ofinran of Odo Nla town, Ikorodu, Lagos, recently took the Oba of Ikorodu, HRH Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs and Ikorodu Divisional Chieftaincy Committee, to the High Court of Lagos State, Ikorodu Judicial Division.
Other reliefs sought by Chief David Afolabi Ekiyoyo and Prince Tola Ogunsami on behalf of the Odeyemi Ofinran royal family, include:
“An order granting leave to the Applicants to apply for an order of Mandamus to compel the Respondents to perform their legal or statutory duties of taking further or necessary steps towards the conduct of an inquiry into the Applicants’ proposal for the resuscitation of the Obaship Stool of Odo-Nla Town in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State as the Respondents are mandated to do by Sections 24 and 25 (1) & (2) of the Obas and Chiefs of Lagos State Law Ch.02 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015,” among others.
It would be recalled that in the first week of May,, youths of the Lagos community embarked on a peaceful protest to decry the alleged meddlesome activity of the Ikorodu monarch in the affairs of their town. With placards bearing messages such as “Kabiesi Ayangburen, please, hands-off Odo-Nla Royal stool’, “Freedom is priceless for Odo Nla people in the restoration of her royal heritage’, “Say NO to treachery from Oba Ayangburen on this matter” among others, Odo Nla community youths marched to the residence of Olootu Omoba Meta (head of the three Royal families of Odo Nla), Otunba David Afolabi Ekiyoyo in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The youths accused Oba Shotobi and Otunba Olanrewaju Afuwape among others, of a fresh plot to truncate the wishes of the people of Odo Nla kingdom, Lagos, as regards the resuscitation of its ancient Obaship tradition. The youths also accused the royal father of meddling in the traditional affairs of independent communities in that region simply because of his appointment as Chairman of Ikorodu Divisional Chieftaincy. The Oba has since denied the allegations in different reports.