The Court of Appeal, Lagos has overturned a 2023 judgment of the Lagos State High Court and declared that members of the Mabudeje Royal Family are entitled to fill the vacant stool of the Abowa of Agbowa-Ikosi, a traditional position in the Ikosi-Ejinrin Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State.

In a judgment delivered on Friday, May 30, a three-man panel of justices led by Mohammed Mustapha, Paul Ahmed Bassi, and Ngozika Uwazurunonye—allowed the appeal filed by four representatives of the Mabudeje Royal Family.

They were Prince Babatunde Adenusi, Chief Jamiu Arole Yinusa, Mr. Lateef Shipe, and Mr. Lateef Adenuga. The appellants had earlier lost their claim at the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja, which dismissed their suit on March 23, 2023.

In the suit, they had sought a declaration that they were entitled to nominate a candidate to fill the vacant Abowa stool, an order compelling the Lagos State Government to initiate the process, and other consequential reliefs.

The dispute, which traces back to competing claims of lineage and representation within the royal house, involved several other parties including the Governor of Lagos State, the Attorney General, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and notable community figures such as High Chief S.O. Odufowora (Aro of Agbowa) and Prince Owolabi Saheed Momson.

However, in its judgment, the appellate court found that the lower court erred in law and fact in multiple respects, including its evaluation of evidence and failure to properly determine which group rightly constitutes the Mabudeje Royal Family.

In the lead judgment, Justice Mustapha declared that “the claimants are entitled to the immediate right to fill the vacant stool of the Abowa of Agbowa-Ikosi.”

He also issued an order compelling the Lagos State Government and relevant officials to begin the process of installing the family’s nominee as the next traditional ruler of the town.

The judgment also nullified the previous claim by Prince Owolabi Saheed Momson—who had been nominated by a faction led by the Aduloju and Ogunjirin branches of the royal family—because the selection process was flawed and that the appellants were the rightful representatives.The appeal was argued on behalf of the appellants by a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), alongside S.O.K. Shillings and Fawaz Odusote.

The appellate court’s ruling sets aside the earlier decision and reinstates the Mabudeje Royal Family’s claim to the traditional stool, ending a protracted legal tussle that spanned several years and court orders.