The Fadu-Onimewon royal family has appealed to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to recognise the “autonomous community’s stool and crown of Oba Elejigbo of Ejigbo” as the authentic stool and crown of the Ejigbo people of Lagos.
The family in a petition by its solicitor, Kayode Makinde, the Fadu-Onimewon family also called on the Lagos State Government to recognise and approve the installation of the Oba-elect of Ejigbo, Prince Olawale Edagbeja as Oba Olawale Edagbeja (Adebosipo, Olaobi 1), Alade of Ejigbo Awori in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government area of Lagos State.
The petition was also copied and submitted to the offices of the Executive Governor of Lagos State, the Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor, the Attorney General and Honourable Commissioner of Justice Lagos State and the Director of Legislative drafting in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.
It is entitled, “The petition against the unjustifiable subjugation of the autonomous community of Ejigbo people to alien rule of the Ijons/the recognition and gazette of the Ejigbo stool and crown, the Oba Elejigbo of Ejigbo, Lagos State and the approval for installation of the Ejigbo crown Prince, Prince Olawale Edagbeja.”
The family described Oba of Ijon and his people as “trespassers” in Ejigbo land in a dispute relating to the ownership of part of Ejigbo land, where Chief Ojon and Ijon people were given licence to reside by their ancestors. It was gathered that the then Ojan laid claim to the land by challenging the title and sovereignty of Fadun Onimewon people over Ejigbo land.
However, the Supreme Court, according to the of Fadu-Onimewon family, after taking evidence from all parties and submissions of counsels, ruled in favour of the Fadun Onimewon family in Suit No. SC/57/51.
The petition partly reads, “The Chief Ojon of Ijons in Ejigbo laid claim to the land by challenging the title and sovereignty of our clients’ ancestors over the land. The Supreme Court after evidence from all parties and submissions of counsels, found in favour of Fadu-Onimewon family.”
“The Supreme Court also states expressly in the judgment that Ijon land is about 5 to 8 miles away from Ejigbo, and that the name of the title of the Ijon people’s chief is the “Ojon”. The Ijons traditionally reside up till date at Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State and some of them, whose ancestors ran to Ejigbo, are still in Ejigbo as strangers or settlers.
“The Supreme court in the judgement further states Ejigbo land, which Chief Ijon and his people resided, is not theirs but that of the Ejigbos, thereby pronouncing the Ijons and their Chief, Ojon, trespassers in Ejigbo Land.”
The family, however, advised the Lagos State Government to apply the tradition and custom on the matter of the chieftaincy issue, and also apply the full weight of the decision of the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/57/51 to reject the unjustified approval of Ijons Chief Ojon as the Oba of Ejigbo and recommend the approval of the Ejigbo stool and crown.
The family also pleaded with the government to set aside the recommendations of the panel of inquiry which approved the appointment of Ojon of Ijon and Ejigbo, Oba Moruf Ojoola, and put up a fresh panel of inquiry that would involve all stakeholders to look into the lingering tussle between the Fadun Onimewon on behalf of Ejigbo people and Oba Moruf Ojoola.
It adds, “His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Lagos State will not hesitate to do the needful by reversing the erroneous finding of the chieftaincy panel of inquiry and the acceptance of government, the subsequent approval, gazette of the stool and crown of the stool and crown of the Ejigbos.
“Your Excellency Sir, your government can settle this dispute by setting up a fresh panel that will invite all stakeholders in Ejigbo in the light of the illuminating and instructive decision of the Supreme Court under reference and in strict adherence to and observance of Ejigbo tradition and custom.“
