A legal and royal battle is intensifying in Lagos as Prince Abiola Olojo Kosoko, the Oloja-elect of Lagos, has initiated a fundamental rights enforcement suit against Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, and several senior police officers.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, alleges a pattern of harassment, intimidation, and unlawful interference by the monarch and the police over a sprawling land dispute and a historical chieftaincy title.
The core of the conflict revolves around the ownership of a vast 114.476-hectare tract of land in Ogombo, located in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area, and the succession to the prestigious Oloja of Lagos chieftaincy, a title traditionally held by the Kosoko royal family.
In a sworn affidavit, Prince Kosoko accused Oba Akiolu of leveraging his powerful dual status as the paramount traditional ruler of Lagos and a retired senior police officer to orchestrate a campaign of destabilisation against his family.
The Prince claimed the monarch has used police operatives to intimidate his workers, leading to unlawful arrests and inhumane detention, all over what he insists is a civil land matter.
The lawsuit names the Inspector General of Police, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Zone 2, Lagos), Deputy Commissioner of Police Bello Muhammed, CSP Mariam Ogunmolasuyi, Inspector Ebere, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, and Olumegbon Ajah Chieftaincy Family Property & Investments Ltd as respondents.
The investment company is reportedly linked to the rival Olumegbon royal family.
Prince Kosoko highlighted that the Kosoko family’s ownership of the disputed Ogombo land has already been affirmed by a Lagos High Court.
A consent judgment delivered by Justice O.O. Ogunjobi on November 12, 2024, in Suit No. LD/12881LMW/2022, legally recognised the Kosoko family as the rightful owners.
According to the plaintiff, Oba Akiolu has disregarded this binding judgment and has not pursued a legitimate appeal.
Instead, he is allegedly using police intervention to frustrate the family's rights and forcefully seize the land.
“Ownership of land is a purely civil matter and not criminal in nature. The 6th Respondent (Oba Akiolu) has the right to appeal the judgment of the High Court, which he has failed to do.
“Instead, he is using the police and government agencies to intimidate me and collect my family land,” the affidavit reads.
This is not the first time the Kosoko family has sought legal redress against police interference.
Prince Kosoko noted that they had previously filed a similar case, FHC/L/CS/308/2025, before Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court, specifically alleging repeated acts of police harassment on the Ogombo land.
The Prince explained that his ancestor, King Kosoko, a legendary warrior-king, acquired vast territories from Lagos Island to Epe, with his claims recognised in historical treaties with the British in 1854 and 1863.
He maintained that the Ogombo land is part of this ancestral estate, making the claim by the Olumegbon family legally invalid.
Prince Kosoko further alleged in his affidavit that Oba Akiolu has openly boasted of his influence and ability to use his connections within the police force to sideline the Kosoko family.
“The 6th Respondent has been heard to boast that aside from being the paramount traditional ruler of Lagos, he equally doubles as a senior of the 2nd Respondent and there is nothing that he wants from the 1st and 2nd Respondents that they would not do for him,” the affidavit claims.
The Prince alleged the monarch has vowed to ensure the Kosoko family loses both their land and the succession to the Oloja title.
Represented by their legal team, led by L.A. Alabi, the Oloja-elect is seeking a court order to enforce his fundamental human rights, prevent further harassment, and permanently restrain the police and Oba Akiolu from interfering with the family’s land.
As of this report, no date has been set for the hearing of the case.
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