Olu of Iju Ishaga’s Appointment, Installation Invalidated Over Contempt of Court

The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has invalidated the appointment and installation of Prince Bayo Iginla as the Olu of Iju Ishaga, citing a wilful breach of an existing court order. Justice (Dr) L.A.M. Folami, delivering a decisive ruling, condemned the installation as a direct affront to judicial authority and due process.

The Claimants, Chief Adams Akande Balogun, Mr Bashiru Alamu Balogun, and Mr Rasheed Adewole Balogun representing the Arayomi Aiyeteru Ruling Family, had gone to court asserting their right to produce the next traditional ruler of Iju Ishaga. They argued that the recent installation violated a subsisting order made on December 18, 2024, which directed all parties to maintain the status quo.

Despite the order, the Lagos State Executive Council proceeded to approve and recognise Prince Iginla’s installation, which was carried out while the suit was still pending. This prompted the Claimants to return to court with a Motion on Notice filed on December 31, 2024, asking for the appointment to be nullified.

Justice Folami, ruling on the matter, stated unequivocally that the Defendants acted in “total disobedience” of the court’s directive. She found that the 1st Defendant, Chief Isaac Kolawole Akinbami, had “stolen a match” on the Claimants, effectively undermining the fairness of the judicial process.

In a stern application of the law, the court set aside the State Government’s approval, nullified the installation ceremony, and barred Prince Iginla from parading himself as the Olu of Iju Ishaga. Additionally, the court restrained all Government officials from recognising the installation or disbursing any benefits tied to the title.

Citing key precedents, including Statoil (Nig.) Ltd v Star Deep Waters Petroleum Ltd and NDIC v Savannah Bank, Justice Folami emphasised that mandatory injunctions are warranted where litigants attempt to pre-empt court decisions by rushing through questionable acts during trial.

The judgement, delivered with finality and clarity, not only underscores the importance of respecting the Judiciary in chieftaincy matters, but also serves as a caution to public office holders and traditional institutions that the rule of law must prevail, above executive fiat or customary pressure.

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    Lawyers Hail Mbah’s Transformative Leadership, Giant Strides in 2 Years

    Lawyers Hail Mbah’s Transformative Leadership, Giant Strides in 2 Years

    We’ve reduced violent crimes by 80%, invested in infrastructure, education, says Mbah

    Lawyers and participants at the ongoing Annual General Conference, AGC, of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Enugu have commended the governor of the state, Dr. Peter Mbah, for what they described as his transformative leadership in the past two years.

    They gave the commendations on Tuesday during Governor Mbah’s presentation on “Leadership and Transformation,” where he showcased Enugu State, sharing practical strategies he was applying in overcoming barriers and unlocking Enugu’s opportunities.

    Chief Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said he was familiar with the state over the years and it would be evil for anyone to deny the obvious transformations under Mbah.

    “I come to Enugu every day. So, I am not a stranger at all to Enugu State. It will be difficult for me to deny that I have not seen some groundbreaking projects. To deny your transformative leadership will be sinful, and I do not want to be a sinner,” he said.

    Ozekhome wondered how Mbah was able to “do these great things in a highly politicised environment infested by political buccaneers, and in an environment where there is more politicking than governance.”

    Another lawyer, Senator Dino Melaye, commended Mbah for emerging as a pacesetter in good governance in two years.

    “I am particularly and personally impressed with the governor of Enugu State because all these things have been done in two years. I only can see that you think out of the box,” he said.

    He commended Mbah for putting competence above political considerations in the recruitment of his team.

    “Also, I am impressed with your expertise in the recruitment process, in appointing your political appointees. The intellectual sagacity displayed by them is too much. It gives hope that Nigeria can be fine again. It contributes a lot to the progress you are achieving and have achieved,” he concluded.

    In his presentation, Governor Mbah observed that transformational leadership demanded the audacity to envision something beyond low expectations, insisting that such leaders must ground their work in vision, values, and a disruptive strategy to achieve the desired results.

    “Our vision was to grow Enugu’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion, to reduce the poverty headcount to zero, and to make Enugu the preferred destination in Nigeria for business, for tourism, and for living. We imagined a state that, within eight years, would be completely unrecognisable from the one we inherited,” he said.

    He, however, explained that such humongous vision and targets could not be wished into existence, hence the state’s huge investments in drastic crime reduction and the building of infrastructure to power business, tourism, and investment.

    “None of our visions and targets would have been possible without security. So, from the outset, we built a tech-driven, intelligence-led security architecture anchored in our Command and Control Centre.

    “With round-the-clock AI surveillance across our neighbourhoods, integrated response units (DRS), and community partnership, Enugu has recorded an over 80% reduction in violent crime.

    “This stability is the bedrock upon which investment, jobs, and society can grow.”

    He added that his administration had to its credit over 2,000 ongoing or completed projects cutting across various sectors – health, roads, transport, agriculture, and education, among others.

    He said his administration’s consistent allocation of 33 per cent of the state’s annual budget to education was informed by the recognition that the state’s real wealth now and in the future rested on the quality of its human capital.

    “We committed over 33 per cent of our budget to education – a decision some thought was reckless. But we knew it was essential.

    “Our greatest asset is in the head, the hand, and the heart of our people. Refurbishing classrooms was not enough; we had to completely re-imagine education for the digital age and the future job market.

    “Next month we launch 260 Smart Green Schools – one for every ward in the state. These are integrated, tech-enabled, future-facing institutions that prepare children not just to learn, but to create, to innovate, and to compete in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he added.

    The post Lawyers Hail Mbah’s Transformative Leadership, Giant Strides in 2 Years appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

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    We’ve reduced violent crimes by 80%, invested in infrastructure, education, says Mbah Lawyers and participants at the ongoing Annual General Conference, AGC, of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Enugu
    The post Lawyers Hail Mbah’s Transformative Leadership, Giant Strides in 2 Years appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

    Breaking: PDP Zones 2027 Presidential Ticket to South

    Breaking: PDP Zones 2027 Presidential Ticket to South

    The Peoples Democratic Party has zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
    The decision was reached during it National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Monday.

    Debo Ologunagba, the PDP national spokesman, while presenting the communique issued after the meeting, said the NEC approved recommendations of the zoning committee after extensive deliberation.

    He said that the existing zoning arrangement for NWC positions would remain in place for the national convention in November to elect a new national working committee (NWC).

    “That all PDP national office positions currently in the northern region of the country remain in the northern region,” he said.

    “That all PDP national office positions currently in the southern region of the country remain in the southern region.

    “That having retained the position of the national chairman in the northern region of the country, the presidential candidate of the party for the 2027 general election is hereby zoned to the southern region.

    “That the regions should immediately micro-zone positions within its region for implementation.”

    Details to later.

    The post Breaking: PDP Zones 2027 Presidential Ticket to South appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

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    The Peoples Democratic Party has zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.The decision was reached during it National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Monday. Debo Ologunagba,
    The post Breaking: PDP Zones 2027 Presidential Ticket to South appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

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