The Ilajo Royal Family of Kabba has applauded the verdict delivered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday, May 16, upholding the ruling of the Appeal Court that gave the Royal Family the legal right to challenge Chief Dele Owoniyi’s alleged illegal occupation of the Obaro Stool.
In a statement signed by the president-general of the Ilajo Descendants Union, Dr Samuel Alori, and made available to journalists in Lokoja, the Ilajo Royal Family expressed satisfaction over the judgement and expressed its readiness to represent its case with all the cultural and historical evidence at the lower court for proper adjudication.
The legal tussle started in 2018 following the appointment by the Kogi State government of Chief Dele Owoniyi as the Obaro of Kabba who the ilajo Royal Family said was an interloper and a usurper and and the rightful person to occupy the revered Obaro Stool having not come from any of the three ruling houses of Ajinuhi, Ajibohokun and Mokelu of the Ilajo Royal Dynasty of Kabba.
Jolted by the announcement of Owoniyi , the Ilajo Royal Family said it made frantic efforts to present its grievances to the state government to no avail, which compelled it to approach the court for redress.
The High Court sitting in Lokoja ruled that although the Ilajo Royal Family has the exclusive right to the stool, the ” Ilajo Royal family slept for too long over their right” having failed to challenge the 1995 Edict.
The judge therefore ruled that the case was statue barred, noting that the High Court has no jurisdiction over the case.
The Ilajo Royal Family, however, appealed the case, and the Appeal Court ruled in favour of the family, saying that the lower court erred in its ruling.
Not satisfied with the ruling of the Appeal Court, Chief Owoniyi and the king makers headed to the Supreme Court which after thorough examination of the matter dismissed the appeal for lack of merit in favour of the Ilajo Royal Family.
Thus, the Supreme Court justices unanimously upheld the ruling of the Appeal Court in favour of the Ilajo Royal family.
The Supreme Court, while delivering its judgement, referred to a portion of the Ilajo Royal family’s claims before the High Court, where the family asserted its exclusive rights to the Obaro Stool. The court concluded that the assertion sufficiently confers on the Ilajo Royal Family the legal rights to institute the suit at the High Court.
The Supreme Court justices, in their judgment, unanimously affirmed the decision of the Appeal Court and directed the case back to the Chief Judge of Kogi State to be assigned to another Judge.
It also made an order for accelerated hearing by the High Court.
The court consequently dismissed the appeal of Chief Owoniyi for lack of merit.
The Ilajo Royal Family has urged every member to remain calm and continue to live in peace and harmony.
The family, while thanking God for the second victory at the court, also thanks the Supreme Court for standing for the truth and justice, stressing that no matter how long lies travel,truth will ultimately catch up with them and subdue them.