By David Torough, Abuja

The Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has intervened in the lingering dispute over the vacant stool of the Onise of Ise, convening a mediation and reconciliation meeting that ended with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to maintain peace and allow the courts to determine the substantive issues surrounding the succession.

The mediation session, organised by the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Department of the Legal Unit of Lekki LCDA, was held on June 10, 2026, at the council secretariat in Lagos to address security concerns arising from disagreements over the selection of a new traditional ruler for Ise Community.

The meeting was chaired by the Executive Chairman of Lekki LCDA, Hon. (Engr.) Rasaki Bamidele Kasali, and attended by the Council Manager, Mr. Asokere Sejuro, Deputy Director of Legal Services, Mrs. Afolake Fumilayo Senami Roberts, traditional rulers, representatives of the four ruling houses, kingmakers, and professional mediators.

Speaking at the opening of the session, Mrs. Roberts said the council convened the meeting in line with its statutory responsibility to promote peace, public order and communal harmony following reports from security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders and residents indicating rising tension over the succession to the Onise of Ise stool.

“This mediation was convened solely to promote dialogue, reduce tension and preserve peace in Ise Community. It is not intended to determine legal rights or interfere with matters already before the court,” she said.

She stressed that the mediation was not intended to determine legal rights or interfere with pending court proceedings, particularly Suit No. ID/107169CM/2026 between Prince Taibu Adewale Ogunbanjo and another against the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, and four others.

According to her, the objectives of the meeting were to encourage dialogue among stakeholders, reduce tension within the community, promote reconciliation and preserve peace pending the determination of the matter by the court.

However, the council noted that it had received multiple petitions and correspondences from members of the Okuoye Ruling House nominating different individuals for the stool, including Prince Barr Babatunde Ekindayo Esualana, Prince Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu and Prince Seun Ahmed Owoseni.

Stakeholders expressed concern that the existence of multiple nominees had raised uncertainty and heightened tension within the community.

Questions were also asked over the absence of documentary evidence, including minutes of the meeting purportedly held to nominate a candidate, with several participants maintaining that such records were necessary to demonstrate compliance with customary and procedural requirements.

Some members of the Okunoye Ruling House further challenged the process through which Prince Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu reportedly emerged as the nominee, alleging that the exercise lacked broad consultation and did not reflect the consensus of the family.

Similarly, Adekunle Biobaku, Esq., PP: LAW PHARM LP. and solicitors to Head and Principal members of Adegoroye Royal Family in a petition dated 13th April 2026 challenged the “purported selection of one MR. IBRAHIM SANGODEYI SALIU as the Oba Onise of Ise Elect.

The misconceived reliance on the declaration made under Section 6 (2) of Obas and Chiefs Law Cap 138, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 1994 Regulating Selection to the Stool of Onise of Ise in Epe Local Government Area; Approved on the 16th day of August, 1999 and Registered on the 18th day of August, 1999 is said to be the “fundamental distortion of history and customary law, including the wrongful creation and structuring of ruling houses in relation to the Onise of Ise Chieftaincy.”

This matter, the petitioners averred “raises grave issues affecting customary law, historical facts, equity and public order.”

According to them, “The cumulative effect of the above is that non-royal lineages have been elevated to royal status, a single lineage has been split into three for advantage and the legitimate royal family has been marginalised and placed at a disadvantage. This is a clear violation of the native law and custom governing the stool.

“And the purported emergence of Mr. Ibrahim Sangodeyi Saliu is therefore based on an inapplicable declaration, founded on a distorted ruling house structure, contrary to customary law and historical reality and is consequently ultra vires, unlawful, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”

They however, demand the “Nullification of the purported selection of Mr. Ibrahim Sangodeyi Saliu as Oba Onise of Ise and “Affirmation of the Adegoroye Royal Family as the sole legitimate ruling house to the Oba Onise of Ise Stool.”

The case which is now before the High Court Of Lagos State in the Epe Judicial Division with permanent suit number EPD/15252GCMW/2026 has Prince Alhaji R. Ogunbajo Adegoroye; Prince Adefowope Adenupebi Adegoroye; Prince Adebola Nureni Shittu Adegoroye; Prince Adelaja Salisu Adegoroye (Suing for themselves and on behalf of the Adegoroye Royal Family of Ise Kingdom) and the Attorney-General of Lagos State; the Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Lagos State; the Executive Chairman, Lekki Local Council Development Area; the Executive Chairman, Epe Local Government Area. Defendants; Mr. Ibrahim Sangodeyi Saliu; Mr. Alidu Ligali (For himself and on behalf of Okunoye Family of Ise), Mr. Onti Adebisi Simon (For himself and on behalf of Olukoko Family of Ise); Alhaji H. I. Quadri (For himself and on behalf of Shebitan Family of Ise) as defendants.

The case has however been adjourned to Thursday 29th October, 2026.

Meanwhile, other stakeholders raised issues regarding the interpretation and validity of the extant Chieftaincy Declaration, but the council declined to comment on those concerns because they are already before the court.

Representatives of the Olukoko Ruling House clarified that they were not laying claim to the vacant stool but attended the mediation to support peace, stability and due process within the community.

Addressing the gathering, the Executive Chairman and the traditional rulers commended participants for their peaceful conduct and urged all parties to place the unity, peace and cultural heritage of Ise Community above personal interests.

“No individual interest should be allowed to jeopardize the peace and unity of Ise Community. We urge all stakeholders to allow lawful processes to take their course,” Chairman Kasali said.

The royal fathers also appealed for restraint, reminding stakeholders that the credibility of traditional institutions depends on public confidence as much as custom and law.

“The legitimacy of any traditional institution rests not only on law and custom but also on the confidence and acceptance of the people. Dialogue and restraint remain essential,” the traditional rulers said.

The council further urged stakeholders to avoid inflammatory statements, acts of provocation and all forms of self-help that could escalate tensions in the community.

At the end of the meeting, the council reaffirmed its neutrality, stating that it would not determine the validity of any nomination or candidate for the stool.

“The council remains neutral on the chieftaincy dispute and will continue to support every lawful effort aimed at maintaining peace and security,” Kasali added.

Stakeholders were unanimously urged to maintain peace, continue dialogue where necessary, and pursue all grievances through lawful channels while awaiting the outcome of the pending litigation.

In a mediation report signed by chartered mediators David Kupolati and C.N. Nga, the panel observed that although divergent views remained over the succession process, stakeholders demonstrated a collective commitment to preserving peace and respecting judicial proceedings.

According to the report, the mediation achieved its immediate objective of fostering dialogue, reducing tension and securing commitments from all parties to refrain from violence, intimidation and any conduct capable of disrupting public peace in Ise Community while the legal process runs its course.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Ministry of Defence has affirmed its commitment to partner with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to fully implement the NIMC Act 2026, leveraging integrated digital identity systems and identity verification to bolster national security operations.

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa stated this when he received the Director General/CEO of NIMC, Dr.

Abisoye Coker-Odusote, alongside her management team, at the Ship House in Abuja.

General Musa emphasised that robust interagency collaboration is crucial in addressing the dynamic nature of modern crime and threat environments, noting that tackling internal and external security challenges relies heavily on actionable data.

 “For us in the security sector, data is critical to know who we are dealing with, who we are expecting, and even those within us, because sometimes the enemy is within. It is therefore vital for us to be able to identify everyone accurately,” General Musa stated.

He added that the Ministry of Defence will continue to extend total support to all government institutions in alignment with its operational mandate.

Earlier, Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote highlighted that the visit was focused on discussing the strategic implementation of the NIMC Act 2026 and its pivotal role in strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

Both leaders agreed on the necessity of a secure, trusted, and interoperable digital identity ecosystem to improve identity verification, enhance defence operations, and foster seamless intelligence sharing across government agencies.

OPay, a leading fintech company in Nigeria, has announced the selection of the top 48
teams for the next stage of the OPay National Innovation Challenge, following an
overwhelming response from students across Nigeria.

The National Innovation Challenge is one of the three flagship initiatives under the newly
expanded OPay Scholars Programme, alongside the ₦1.

2 billion, 10-year scholarship
initiative and OPay Futures. The programme reflects OPay’s long-term commitment to
supporting education, innovation, digital skills development and youth empowerment acrossOPay, a leading fintech company in Nigeria, has announced the selection of the top 48
teams for the next stage of the OPay National Innovation Challenge, following an
overwhelming response from students across Nigeria.The National Innovation Challenge is one of the three flagship initiatives under the newly
expanded OPay Scholars Programme, alongside the ₦1.2 billion, 10-year scholarship
initiative and OPay Futures. The programme reflects OPay’s long-term commitment to
supporting education, innovation, digital skills development and youth empowerment across banks.