Oloja-elect Sues Oba Of Lagos, Police Over Alleged Harassment

The Oloja-elect of Lagos, Prince Abiola Olojo Kosoko, has filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and some senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force over alleged harassment and intimidation.

In the suit filed before the Federal High Court in Lagos, Prince Kosoko seeks a declaration to enforce his fundamental human rights, particularly protection from harassment, intimidation, and unlawful arrest.

He is also asking the court for an order restraining the police and the Oba of Lagos from further interfering with his family’s land at the Ogombo area of the state.

The respondents in the case, which is yet to be assigned to a judge, are the Inspector General of Police, the Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone 2, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Bello Muhammed).

Others are CSP Mariam Ogunmolasuyi, Inspector Ebere, HRM Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, and Olumegbon Ajah Chieftaincy Family Property & Investments Ltd., a subsidiary of the Olumegbon royal family.

In an affidavit attached to the suit, Prince Kosoko (applicant) accused Oba Akiolu of abusing his position as the paramount ruler of Lagos and as a retired senior police officer to intimidate and destabilise his family through repeated police actions.

He claimed that as the Oloja-elect of Lagos, he is a direct descendant of King Kosoko, a historic warrior-king whose reign was pivotal in shaping Lagos’ political and territorial history.

The applicant alleged that Oba Akiolu, leveraging his influence within the police hierarchy, has used law enforcement officers to arrest workers on Kosoko family land in Ogombo, subjecting them to inhumane treatment and establishing criminal charges in what he contends is fundamentally a civil dispute.

He averred that a Lagos High Court, in Suit No. LD/12881LMW/2022, ruled in favour of the Kosoko family, affirming their ownership of 114.476 hectares of land at Ogombo.