Osolo Stool: Hearing Stalled As Defence Lawyer Files Fresh Applications
Hearing in the Osolo of Isolo Chieftaincy title, which was scheduled to continue before a Lagos High Court on Monday, was stalled as the defence lawyers filed two different applications.
The first application was filed on behalf of Isolo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, as well as its chairman who are wishing to be joined in the suit as the 7th and 8th defendants. This was brought in pursuant to order 15 rule 17 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) rules 2019 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
The second motion on notice was for an order of the court granting stay of further proceedings of the case pending the determination of the appeal filed against the ruling of the court delivered on the 4th of December, 2025.
Justice Ezekiel Oluwole Ashade of the Lagos High Court, Sabo, Yaba, had on December 4th, 2026 dismissed the Notice of Preliminary objection filed by the 1st defendant, Prince Isa Abiodun Shekoni-Faronbi, seeking order of the court to strike out the suit because conditions precedent before filing the suit were not complied with by the claimants, Prince Jimmy Adetokunbo Yekini-Goloba.
However, not satisfied with the ruling, the 1st defendant, Shekoni-Faronbi filed a Notice of Appeal dated November 17th, 2025 against the ruling and have applied to compile and transmit the Records to the Court of Appeal, the compilation, which is ongoing.
Lawyer to the 1st defendant, Mr Gbenga Ojo told the court that all the grounds of appeal raised in the notice of appeal are substantial and arguable to warrant the grant of the stay of further proceedings pending the determination of the appeal.
‘’The grounds of appeal border on the jurisdiction of this honourable Court to adjudicate over this suit, when the Claimant hastily rushed to this Court without complying with the Conditions Precedent before filing this suit’’, he stated.
Mr Ojo also told the court that Isolo LCDA and its chairman are interested parties in the case and should be joined as the 7th and 8th defendants in the case.
Counsel to the claimants, Professor Lanre Fagbohun, PhD (SAN) told the court that *the two applications filed have just been served on him in court, and that he would need time to respond to the applications*.
Justice Ashade, in his short ruling, stepped down further hearing on the case and directed that *all* parties should be in court on February 6th *2026* to argue the *appplications*.
In the suit No: LD/13362GCM/2025, Yekini-Goloba is seeking a court declaration affirming him as the rightful successor to the throne based on the rotational arrangement among the three ruling houses in Isolo and the decision of the Alagbeji Ruling House, which he claims is next in line to produce the monarch.
The defendants include Prince Shekoni-Faronbi, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Chieftaincy Committee of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, and the Executive Chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government.
Represented by Prof. Fagbohun, the claimant, is asking the court to nullify the nomination, approval, and installation of Shekoni-Faronbi and to compel the state government to recognize and install *Prince Adetokunbo Jimmy Goloba* as the new Osolo of Isolo.
Among the specific reliefs Yekini-Goloba is seeking are: “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 recognizing Shekoni-Faronbi as monarch or disregarding the decision of the Alagbeji Ruling House.