For almost two years now, his emergence as the Oniru of Iruland has been a subject of litigation before Justice Ganiyu Safari of a Lagos High Court sitting in Badore, Ajai. However, many believed peace may have finally come following reports suggesting a reconciliation spearheaded by counsel to the aggrieved party. But going by recent reports it may yet be a Uhuru for Oba Gbolahan Lawal, the Oniru of Iruland,
Recall that following Oba Lawal’s emergence as the Oniru on 20th June 2020, the Omowunmi Family of Abisogun Ruling House had challenged Oba Lawal, who is from the Ewunmi faction of the family, In court, saying that their faction was more suitable for the Iru stool.
Barrister Monsur Babatunde-Dauda, a purported counsel to the Omowunmi-Abisogun Family, announced that the family had resolved to withdraw all the cases challenging the legality of the ascension of the monarch in court.
Babatunde-Dauda, said that the family had come together to reconcile with the monarch, having observed the all-inclusive leadership style of Oba Lawal.
He said that the family was in the palace to make peace with the monarch and the entire ruling houses who had come together with Oba Lawal to take Iru to the greater heights.
According to Babatunde-Dauda: “We are ready to withdraw the case against the throne and we appeal to other aggrieved members to drop the case against the monarch.
“This is the first step in the reconciliation process. All members of the Omowunmi-Abisogun are in support of Oba Lawal. We are ready to join hands together for the good of the Iru Kingdom.”
Oba Lawal, in his response, reportedly said that he operates an open-door policy and an all-inclusive government in the kingdom. He was quoted as saying that he was happy to receive the aggrieved members of the Abisogun Family, adding that it was about time that all members of Abisogun Royal family reunited to move Iru forward.
“I am here and I have come to stay. I will be here for a very long time by the grace of God. All the resources needed to develop this kingdom, God Almighty will provide it.
“Let’s come together to grow Iruland. We will set up a committee to incorporate the new family that has come to join us. We will give all rights and entitlements to the family as part of the Royal Abisogun Family grow Iruland. I will give you all that you deserve”.
But the Omowumi-Abisogun Family has described as tissue of lies the reported reconciliation with the Oniru of Iru Kingdom, Oba Gbolahan Lawal
The Omowumi-Abisogun Family say the story of the reconciliation is nothing but a ruse, masterminded by the monarch and the lawyer.
“Monsur Babatunde-Dauda is a busybody, a meddlesome interloper who does not hold the brief of the family”, the family insists.
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Oba Gbolahan, a former aide-de-camp to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as governor of Lagos State, was described as a usurper of the throne due to his closeness to Mr Tinubu, and not because he had any royal blood flowing in his veins.
At an emergency meeting of the family held in Lagos, the family dissociated itself from the reported rapprochement.
According to the head of Omowumi-Abisogun Ruling House, Alhaji Surajudeen Durosinmi, Babatunde-Dauda does not have the brief of the family to act as a counsel representing the family.
He said the family is law-abiding that believes in rule of law, and that is why it approached the court of law to challenge the emergence of Gbolahan, who, according to him, Is not a member of the Oniru Family but an imposition by politicians.
His words: “I’m the Head of Omowumi-Abisogun Ruling worldwide. We want to bring the attention of the general public to a news that we had instructed one Monsur Babatunde-Dauda, who claimed to be a lawyer representing us, to withdraw the suit challenging Gbolahan Lawal as Oniru of Iruland. The said lawyer does not have our instruction to withdraw the suit because he is not a lawyer representing us.
“He is not known to us and he is not representing us. He and others who met at Iruland palace are busy bodies, meddlesome interlopers, trying to deceive Gbolahan Lawal so that they will make some money from him.
“As an elder, I’ll only advise Gbolahan Lawal to follow the path of honour and vacate the sacred palace of Oniru because he is not a member of Oniru family. He should also be mindful of questionable characters with a mission to extort money from him.
“There is no division among Omowumi-Abisogun Ruling House family. The process of removing Gbolahan Lawal through legal means is ongoing. Our choice of legal representation is doing his work in court. We are not interested in mortgaging our tomorrow for a pot of porridge,” Durosinmi said.
He further described insinuations thatt members of the Omowumi-Abisogun Ruling House gathered at the palace of Oniru for reconciliation with Gbolahan as tissue of lies that do not hold water. He said the family is not aware of any such gathering.
In his contribution, Olubunmi Olateju Joshua, a member of Omowumi-Abisogun Ruling House said the family has resolved to reclaim the Obaship title of Oniru through the judicial process.
He affirmed that the decision to challenge Gbolahan was a joint decision taken by members of the family both home and abroad after wide consultations, saying that decision cannot be reversed by some people who are not aware of how the process started.
“The family of Omowumi-Abisogun jointly took the decision to challenge the imposition of Gbolahan Lawal as Oniru of Iruland. That is the final position of the family. No hungry person can change that position. We are fully committed to reclaiming our family rights,” he said.
Echoing the position of speakers, Shola Amoshe, a member of Omowumi-Abisogun, frowned at the action of Babatunde-Dauda, for parading himself as a lawyer to Omowumi-Abisogun Family.
He said Babatunde-Dauda did not represent the family in any of their matters in court, and if he has any instruction of the family signed by the head of the family or his representative he should lay it bare before the public.
“It is very sad that Monsur Babatunde-Dauda who did not have the instruction of the family will now be parading himself as the family legal adviser. If he has any paper showing that he was properly briefed by the family he should show it to the public. If he has any court process indicating that his chambers is briefed, he should bring it to the public. If not he should stop the charade being carried out by him,” he said.
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