A major dispute has erupted over the royal succession in Ikoyi and Mobaland, Lagos State, as nine out of ten ruling families have asked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to cancel the installation of Prince Kunle Fafunwa as the new Onikoyi. Fafunwa, son of the late Oba Patrick Onikoyi, was installed on July 15, 2025, following the death of his father in 2023.
The protesting families argue that the selection of Kunle Fafunwa goes against the established 2006 Onikoyi Chieftaincy Declaration, published in Gazette No. 45, which mandates a rotational system. They insist the throne should have passed to the Ojulari branch, not returned to the Fafunwa family, which produced the previous monarch.
Speaking to journalists, Akin Fafunwa, General Secretary of the Onikoyi royal family, said Prince Omogbolahan Onikoyi was the rightful candidate chosen by the majority. He appealed to the governor to correct what he described as a misrepresentation that led to Kunle’s installation. He emphasized that Omogbolahan is the duly selected successor based on tradition and legality.
Backing this claim, Alhaji Akinyemi Esinlokun, head of the Ojulari branch, called on the state to respect established procedures and refrain from imposing a monarch. According to him, Lagos has a recognized system for selecting traditional rulers and it must be followed to maintain order and justice.
The families revealed they had informed the Eti-Osa Local Government, the Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Governor’s Office of their decision in 2023. However, none of the letters received any response.
In pursuit of legal redress, the aggrieved parties have filed a lawsuit at the Lagos State High Court, asking the court to compel the government to recognize Prince Omogbolahan. The case, presided over by Justice Opesanwo, is slated for hearing on September 18, 2025.
As of the time of this report, the Lagos State government has not made any official comment, and Prince Kunle Fafunwa has not responded to the controversy surrounding his installation.
