ROYAL RIFT IN SAGAMU: Court Battle Over Traditional Stool Deepens Crisis in Soomo Village
• Court Sacks Onisoomo of Soomo, Chief Olatunji Solaja, Barred Him From Tittles, Use of Beaded Crown, Other Activities
....Set aside all his purported nomination & installation as Olu or Onisoomo of Soomo
By Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo
The high court sitting in Sagamu has ordered the stripping of the Olu of Soomo his titles, barred him from using a beaded crown, and other activities surrounding the installation as the Olu of Soomo in Sagamu area of Ogun State.
A high-stakes legal confrontation over traditional authority in Ogun State has thrown Soomo Village in Sagamu into the spotlight, as community leaders, monarchs, and government officials clash over the legitimacy of a controversial royal installation.
The dispute, currently before the High Court of Ogun State sitting in Sagamu Judicial Division, has exposed deep divisions within the community and raised critical questions about adherence to the rule of law in chieftaincy matters.
In Suit No. HCS/683/2022, presided over by Hon. Justice M. A. Akinyemi, two prominent figures—Chief Oluwasegun Sotinwa Atobatele and Baale Adekola Omobowale Oduguwa—acting for themselves and members of the Osoribiya Family, have taken legal action against Chief Olatunji Solaja and several influential defendants, including top traditional rulers and key Ogun State government authorities.
At the center of the controversy is the installation of Chief Olatunji Solaja as the Olu or Onisoomo of Soomo Village, an event said to have taken place on March 20 and 21, 2025, at the palace of a senior monarch. The Applicants contend that the installation was carried out while the case was still pending in court, describing it as a clear act of “self-help” and a violation of the legal doctrine of lis pendens, which prohibits actions that could alter the subject matter of ongoing litigation.
Through a Motion on Notice filed on April 9, 2025, the Applicants are seeking a series of court orders, including a mandatory injunction to nullify the installation. They also want the court to compel relevant authorities to restore the chieftaincy stool to its status as of October 4, 2023, which would involve withdrawing all symbols of authority conferred on Chief Solaja. Additionally, they are asking the court to restrain him from presenting himself as the traditional ruler pending the final resolution of the case.
Backing their claims is a 14-paragraph affidavit supported by documentary exhibits, which they argue demonstrate a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the court. Their legal team insists that allowing such actions to stand would set a dangerous precedent, encouraging litigants to sidestep judicial processes.
However, the Respondents have strongly opposed the application. In a detailed counter-affidavit, Chief Solaja maintains that he had long held the position of Olu prior to the institution of the suit and argues that the title of “Oba Onisoomo” is a distinct and separate chieftaincy, created under the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law of 2021. He further points to his advanced age—over 90 years—as evidence of his longstanding role in the community’s traditional structure.
Other Respondents also dispute the Applicants’ claims, asserting that the installation did not interfere with the subject matter of the case. They have, in turn, accused the Applicants of altering the status quo themselves by installing one of their members as Baale during the pendency of the suit.
The legal arguments have been intense, with counsel for the Applicants citing established authorities to argue that courts must act decisively when parties attempt to “steal a match” during litigation. On the other hand, the Respondents’ counsel has challenged the competence of the application, arguing that it introduces issues outside the scope of the original suit.
In his preliminary observations, Justice Akinyemi acknowledged the complexity of the issues but emphasized that they remain within the bounds of judicial determination. Notably, he observed that while the Respondents do not deny that Chief Solaja currently occupies the stool of Oba Onisoomo, they maintain that Soomo Village recognizes three distinct traditional roles—Baale, Olu, and Oba Onisoomo—each functioning independently.
The three reliefs (rulings sought) as stated in the court document are:
* Mandatory Injunction to Set Aside Installation: An order to set aside the purported installation of the 1st Defendant (Chief Olatunji Solaja) as the Olu or Onisoomo of Soomo Village. This installation was carried out by the 2nd Defendant at his palace on March 20 and 21, 2025, while the suit was still pending.
* Restoration of Status Quo and Retrieval of Authority Emblems: An order mandating the 2nd, 4th, and 6th Defendants to restore the Chieftaincy Stool of the Oba, Olu, or Onisoomo to the status quo as of October 4, 2023. This involves withdrawing or retrieving the staff of office, instrument of appointment, and all kingly paraphernalia—such as ancient crowns, beads, and horsetails—that portray the 1st Defendant as "His Royal Highness Chief Michael Olatunji Solaja" or "Oba Michael Olatunji Solaja".
* Injunction Against Parading as the Olu or Onisoomo: An order mandating the 1st Defendant to maintain the status quo as of October 4, 2023, by refraining from addressing himself to the public or parading himself in any manner as the Olu or Onisoomo of Soomo Village until the final determination of the suit. The Court ordered the 2nd defendant in the case to withdraw all chiefthancy instruments like bids, staff office, beaded crowns and all related items given to Chief Olatunji Solaja during installation as Onisoomo of Soomo
The case has drawn widespread attention across Ogun State, given its implications for traditional governance and the interplay between customary authority and modern legal systems.
As proceedings continue, residents and observers alike await the court’s final decision, which is expected to have far-reaching consequences not only for Soomo Village but also for the broader framework of chieftaincy administration in Nigeria.
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