1st December, 2010
Banking on the recent elevation of high ranking chiefs of Lagos to the status of Oba, the Ashogbon of Lagos, Chief Ahmed Olaribigbe Karim-Akasoro, has appealed to the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu 1, to elevate him as oba of Bariga.
Cited the Ojora, now the Oba of Ijora/Iganmu; the Onikoyi, elevated to Oba Onikoyi of Ikoyi/Imobaland and Elegushi of Lagos promoted Oba Elegushi of Ikateland, the Ashogbon of Lagos said that he has important documents to back his claim that Barigaland belongs to the Ashogbon chieftaincy family.
In a letter addressed to Oba Akiolu by his lawyer, Lookman Agboola of Abegbe Agboola Chambers, his plea for elevation as oba of Bariga should be considered in view of the Lagos State government’s policy that owners of the land should become traditional rulers of their areas and not slaves or occupants lording it over their masters.
He said the ownership of Barigaland has historical and legal backing, adding it was once disputed and resolved by the Supreme Court in suit number AD/123/59, between Chief Imam Ashafa B. Tijani and Oloto Chieftaincy Family versus Chief Ashogbon and six others, on behalf of Ashogbon chieftaincy family.
“Ashogbon chieftaincy family is the owner of Abule Okuta, Seriki, Apelehin villages and environs. The judgement in suit AD/123/59 settled the ownership in favour of my family,†Chief Karim-Asasoro said.
In another suit number HK/97/61 between Lamidi Suberu and others (on behalf of customary tenants in the three villages) versus the Honourable Minister of Lands and Housing, the three traditional rulers said they were customary tenants of Ashogbon in the three villages and that they instituted the action for the crops in respect of 40 acres of land acquired from Ashogbon in the said villages.
—Moyo Fabiyi
