By Lukman Olabiyi
In the intricate tapestry of Nigeria’s judicial system, the Supreme Court stands as the ultimate authority, embodying the finality of justice and the pinnacle of legal interpretation.
Based on this, the apex’s final verdict on any dispute put an end to further adjudication on any legal matter therefore, it recent ruling on the legal battle for the throne of Orijeru of Igbooye Land, Epe, Lagos has ended the reign of Mr. Michael Onakoya as king of the town. .
The apex court in a significant ruling struck out an appeal filed by Mr. Onakoya, challenging his dethronement as the traditional ruler of Igbooye land
This ruling, in case SC/CV/969/2024, upheld the decisions of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal and the Lagos High Court, cementing Onakoya’s removal from the throne.
The Supreme Court, with Justices Adamu Jauro, Chidiebere Nwaoma, Obande Festus Ogbuinya, Stephen Jonah Adah, and Ohammed Baba Idri presiding, found the appeal to be filed out of time as per Section 27 of the Supreme Court Act.
Justice Jauro, who read the ruling, emphasized that the appeal was “incompetent having been filed outside the time prescribed.
Despite strong representation by Prof. Yusuf Ali (SAN) for the seventh respondent, urging the court to hear the appeal, the justices were resolute.
“We do not deem it proper to hear an incompetent appeal,” Justice Jauro held.
Consequently, the notice of appeal was struck out with no order as to costs.
The journey to this apex court decision began with the Lagos High Court’s judgment in April 2016 by Justice Iyabo Kasali.
Justice Kasali ruled that Onakoya was not a member of the Ewade Ruling House of Igbooye and thus not entitled to the throne.
The court restrained Onakoya from parading himself as a member of the Ewade Ruling House or as the Orijeru of Igbooye land, citing fraudulent documents used for his nomination and selection.
Onakoya’s attempts to overturn this decision were thwarted by the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal in March 2020.
The appellate court, with Justices Mohammad Lawal, Ugochukwu Ogakwu, and Jamilu Tukur, unanimously dismissed Onakoya’s appeal, affirming that the former king’s application was without merit.
The court upheld that Onakoya was not entitled to the throne and that the respondents had the right to initiate the suit.
The saga of Onakoya’s dethronement is steeped in legal battles and government interventions.
In 2008, Justice Habib Abiru, now of the Supreme Court, initially dethroned Onakoya in suit ID/1472/1992.
Despite multiple appeals, the judgments were consistently upheld, leading to the Lagos State government’s decision to banish Onakoya from Igbooye in 2016.
This banishment, however, was reviewed in 2017, allowing Onakoya to return to the community under strict conditions, forbidding him from acting as an Oba.
The Supreme Court’s recent decision marks the end of Onakoya’s legal struggle to reclaim his position.
The ruling underscores the judiciary’s stance on upholding procedural timelines and the integrity of traditional succession processes.
For the community of Igbooye, this judgment brings a definitive closure to a prolonged dispute, reaffirming the legitimacy of traditional authority and the rule of law.