The Lagos State Police Command has arrested Adeniyi Illo, who allegedly paraded himself as the Olu of Ikeja, following a petition bordering on conspiracy, impersonation and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
The petition, dated July 28, 2026, was submitted by the Association of African Traditional Religion Nigeria and Overseas through a covering letter from His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, and subsequently endorsed by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani.
According to police sources, the petitioner alleged that Illo presented himself as the new Olu of Ikeja after being purportedly installed during a public ceremony by a group of individuals. During the ceremony, he was allegedly adorned with a beaded crown and other royal regalia traditionally associated with a crowned Yoruba monarch.
The petition further alleged that the purported installation was carried out without the requisite authority of the Lagos State Government, raising concerns over alleged impersonation of the traditional ruler of Ikeja Kingdom and the potential for the development to trigger a breach of peace.
Following the petition, the matter was assigned to the General Investigation Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos, under the direct supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Dayo Akinbisehin, for discreet investigation.
Detectives reportedly issued invitation letters to the suspect on several occasions, but Illo allegedly failed to honour the invitations.
It was gathered that investigators subsequently obtained a warrant for his arrest, amid plans to declare him wanted through the police official gazette over the seriousness of the allegations, which authorities said touch on the integrity of Yoruba traditional institutions and values.
Illo was, however, eventually arrested and taken into custody, with detectives commencing further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the purported installation and his alleged claim to the traditional stool.
Police sources said the suspect is currently assisting investigators and is expected to be charged to court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.
The development underscores the commitment of the SCID, Panti, under the leadership of CP Fatai Tijani and with the support of DCP Dayo Akinbisehin, to proactively investigate allegations capable of threatening public order and deploy discreet, intelligence-led policing to resolve sensitive criminal and related disputes before they escalate across Lagos State.