By TINA TIMOTHY

The Palace of Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi and the Elegushi Royal family has decried the misinterpretation of the supreme court ruling, by a section of the media, in an appeal brought before the apex court by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Lagos State Government.

In a statement on Friday February 3, 2024, signed by Mr. Temitope Oyefeso, Special Assistant, Public Affairs, Palace of HRM Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, the Palace stated that the reports by some media outlets on the matter was aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the king and the royal family hence needs to put some clarity ‘”and shame these mischief-makers.”

The statement reads: “”The attention of the palace of Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi and the Elegushi Royal family has been drawn to a misleading news by a section of the media, over the judgement of the Supreme Court in an appeal brought before the apex court by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Lagos State Government.

“Ordinarily, the Palace would not have dignified the various malicious statements made in the publication being circulated with a response but for the fact that there is a need to set the record straight and put some clarity into what has transpired. Undoubtedly, the judgement is a public document, which anyone can access for clarification and digest accordingly.

“However, for the benefit of our business partners, who have expressed anxiety over the fake news, a significant portion of which was deliberated designed to malign the Elegushi Royal Family, it is important we debunk it and shame these mischief-makers.”

According to the statement, the royal family distanced itself from the suit, saying it wasn’t instituted by king Ademola but the appeal which the apex court ruled on was filed by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Lagos State Government, adding that it “does not nullify the rights and privileges of the Elegushi Royal Family and its appointed representatives in respect of all parcels of land in which the Family is entitled to right of occupancy.”

The statement continues: ”The suit, which was adjudicated by the Supreme Court, was not instituted by Oba Saheed Elegushi nor is the Elegushi Royal Family a party to the said appeal. It is an appeal between NIWA (an agency of the federal government) and Lagos State Government over the control of the inland waterways and has absolutely nothing to do with ownership of land by the Elegushi Royal Family or any other land-owning family in Lagos.

“This judgment, however, does not nullify the rights and privileges of the Elegushi Royal Family and its appointed representatives in respect of all parcels of land in which the Family is entitled to right of occupancy.”

The palace further assured that legal steps are already in place to address the issues and therefore urged members of the public to disregard the publication spreading the “disparaging statements”.

“Consequent upon the above, we wish to denounce all the disparaging statements contained in the said publication. Our lawyers are already taking the appropriate legal steps to address these issues in accordance with the applicable laws.

“We, therefore, urge all members of the public to disregard the publication, particularly to the extent of its mention of the Elegushi royal Family,” the palace added.