July 14, (THEWILL) – The Supreme Court of Nigeria has struck out an appeal filed by Micheal Onakoya against the decision of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal which affirmed the judgment of the lower court that dethroned him as the traditional ruler of Igbooye land, Epe.
In a recently delivered judgment in suit SC//CV//969/2024, by a panel of judges comprising Justice Adamu Jauro, Justice Chidiebere Nwaoma, Justice Obande Festus Ogbuinya, Justice Stephen Jonah Adah and Justice Mohammed Baba Idri, all of the appellate court, held that the appeal was filed out of time. The ruling of the Supreme Court was read by Justice Jauro, the presiding justice. The 1st to 6th respondents in the appeal were represented by Babs Animashaun, and the 7th respondent was represented by Prof Yusuf Ali (SAN) with Adams Olori Aje, Alex Okoja, Sefinat Lamidi and Kehinde Salimon. The 8th and 9th respondents were represented by A.O. Muheed, a Deputy Director with the Lagos State Government and Florence Pius Anyador, a Chief State Counsel and O. Osusanya, an Assistant Chief State Counsel. The Court of appeal, Lagos Division had in March 2020 affirmed the judgment of a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere which dethroned him as the traditional ruler and Orijeru of Igbooye land, Epe. Dissatisfied, the deposed king had approached the Court of Appeal and sought the order of the court to set aside the judgment of the lower court delivered on April 19, 2016, by Justice Iyabo Kasali. But the court in a unanimous decision, dismissed the appeal filed by the deposed monarch.
The Lagos State government had on May 17, 2016 banished the deposed monarch from Igbooye town following the two judgments after his dethronement as the Orijeru of Igbooyeland, Epe. However, following his appeal to the state government, his banishment was reviewed and he was allowed to return home in April 2017, but with instructions that his return should not incite the breakdown of law and order, or in any way disturb the peace of the community.
Prince Rasaq Musa Adebamowo from Ewade royal family was nominated as the new king, but his coronation was delayed by the legal battle. With the Supreme Court’s affirmation, his coronation will hopefully be done speedily.
