Olu of Oko Baba Agba: Court Suspends Kabiru Adesegun Bashiru’s Installation
A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has restrained the proposed coronation of Chief Kabiru Adesegun Bashiru as the Olu of Oko Baba Agba in Oworonshoki, pending the hearing and final determination of a substantive suit challenging his purported installation.
The court, presided over by Justice D.T. Olatokun of the General Civil Division, gave the order on Friday, November 6, 2026, in Suit No. ID/9885GCMW/2023.
The suit was instituted by seven claimants, led by Prince Adeniyi Saliu, against the Governor of Lagos State, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, HRM Babatunde Saliu, the Oloworo of Oworo Kingdom, and Chief Kabiru Adesegun Bashiru.
In the enrolled order made available to the parties, Justice Olatokun granted an order of mandatory injunction directing the defendants to restore and maintain the status quo that existed before the purported installation of Bashiru as the Olu of Oko Baba Agba.
The court also ordered the suspension of the effect, operation and consequences of the purported installation pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Specifically, the judge restrained the Governor and the Attorney-General of Lagos State, their agents, ministries, departments and agencies from granting any governmental, administrative or official recognition to Bashiru as the Olu of Oko Baba Agba.
The court further prohibited the state government from recognising, approving, gazetting, publishing, listing or otherwise holding out Bashiru as the traditional ruler of the disputed stool.
Justice Olatokun also restrained Bashiru from parading, presenting or portraying himself as the Olu of Oko Baba Agba pending the determination of the case.
In another significant aspect of the ruling, the court specifically barred the first, second and third defendants from participating in, authorising, approving, recognising, facilitating or sponsoring the proposed coronation of Bashiru, scheduled for November 16, 2026.
The judge equally restrained Bashiru, his agents, representatives and anyone acting on his behalf from organising, conducting or participating in the proposed coronation, either on the scheduled date or any other date, until the substantive suit is determined.
Furthermore, the court directed the Lagos State Government to suspend the operation of, and refrain from issuing or acting upon, any certificate, instrument, approval, Staff of Office, gazette, official publication or governmental document purporting to confer official recognition on Bashiru as the Olu of Oko Baba Agba.
The order also extends to Kosofe Local Government and other relevant ministries, departments and agencies of the Lagos State Government, restraining them from taking further administrative steps to recognise, establish or validate the disputed traditional institution or Bashiru’s purported status.
The court consequently directed all defendants to preserve the subject matter of the suit and maintain the existing status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the case.
The application was brought through a motion on notice dated October 6, 2026, pursuant to Section 18 of the High Court Law, Cap H.3, Laws of Lagos State 2003, Order 42 Rule 4 of the High Court of Lagos State Civil Procedure Rules 2019, and the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
The application was moved by Yemi Okewoye, counsel to the claimants, while the court considered a 43-paragraph affidavit deposed to by the first claimant, Prince Adeniyi Saliu.
The matter was adjourned until January 26, 2027, for a Case Management Conference.
