A Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) yesterday, made an order that status quo be maintained in a suit No. LD/9297GCMW/2022 between Prince Adewale A. A. Oniwonlu versus the Executive Governor of Lagos State and 21 others as defendants.
The order is thereby stalling the coronation ceremony of one Waliu Olasunkanmi Rasaki (aka Waliu Oluwo), as the Onibeju of Ibeju, which is slated to take place on February 11, 2023.
Justice K. O. Dawodu gave the order after hearing counsel to the claimant, Adedayo S. Oshodi; counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, O.Z Musa and counsel to the 20th defendant, A. O. Abaniwonda.
The judge stated: “It is hereby ordered that all the parties in this suit shall maintain status quo in this suit.”
Also, in a motion of notice filed by counsel to the claimant, Oniwonlu is seeking for an order of mandatory injunction, demanding that the Governor of Lagos State, who is the first defendant and the third respondent, Honorable Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs reverse the purported installation of November 3, 2022.
He also sought an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the respondents jointly and severally from taking any steps in representing, parading or recognising the 9th respondent, Waliu Olasunkanmi Rasaki (aka Oluwo) as the Onibeju of Ibeju kingdom, slated to take place on February 11, 2023.
Counsel to the claimant argued that since the service of all the processes including the motion of mandatory injunction on the defendants, the defendants had continued to take steps in respect of the matter, which is sub-judicial.
The court therefore adjourned the matter to February 15, 2023 for hearing of the motion for mandatory injunction.
Counsel to the 1st, 3rd and 20th defendants were also present at the court.