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Mabudeje Family Wins Agbowa-Ikosi Kingship Appeal

Published

9 months ago

June 7, 2025

Mabudeje Family Wins Agbowa-Ikosi Kingship Appeal

The Court of Appeal in Lagos has overturned a previous judgment of the Lagos State High Court and upheld the right of the Mabudeje Royal Family to nominate a candidate for the vacant stool of the Abowa of Agbowa-Ikosi.

In a judgment delivered on May 30, 2025, the appellate court ruled that the lower court erred in law and failed to properly assess the evidence presented in the long-standing dispute over the traditional leadership of the Agbowa-Ikosi community in Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA of Lagos State.

In Appeal No: CA/LAG/CV/1104/2023, the panel of justices, led by Justice Ngozika Okaisabor, held that the Mabudeje Royal Family, represented by Prince Babatunde Adenusi and others, had established their entitlement to the kingship based on credible and consistent evidence.

The court found that the High Court was wrong to have recognised the nomination and selection of Prince (Barr.) Owolabi Saheed Momson, who was joined as the 8th defendant in the suit, as the rightful Oba.

Justice Okaisabor, in the lead judgment, noted that a key piece of evidence presented by the claimants, a 2007 meeting of the Oba-in-Council admitted as Exhibit P9, revealed that the Aduloju family had clearly disassociated themselves from the Mabudeje lineage. Quoting from the minutes of the meeting, the court stated: “The 6th Respondent in the said Exhibit P9 denied being member of Mabudeje family and further stated that there is no one in their family who bears such a name.”

The appellate court found this disavowal significant, especially since the lower court had based its findings on a nomination process facilitated by the Aduloju family, which, by their own account, was not part of the Mabudeje ruling house.

Justice Okaisabor concluded that the evidence of the claimants was more coherent and reliable than that of the respondents.

The court also found that the proper legal process for involving the rightful royal family in the nomination had not been followed. Specifically, it determined that no valid communication was made by the authorities to the Mabudeje family inviting them to put forward a nominee.

“The said evidence of Appellants’ PW1… is that the 4th respondent did not write to them but wrote to the Adulojus as Mabudeje family, whereas Adulojus is not Mabudeje family,” the judgment noted.

Based on these findings, the Court of Appeal granted all the principal reliefs sought by the claimants. It issued a declaration affirming the right of the Mabudeje Royal Family to fill the vacant kingship stool and ordered the relevant government and chieftaincy authorities to invite the family to submit a nominee for installation.

“A DECLARATION that the claimants are entitled to the immediate right to fill the vacant stool of the Abowa of Agbowa-Ikosi in the Ejinrin/Eredo Local Government Development Area of Lagos State.

“AN ORDER compelling the 1st – 5th Defendants to call for the claimants’ nominee for the vacant stool of the Abowa of Agbowa-Ikosi and install the nominee as the Abowa of Agbowa-Ikosi.”

The judgment was supported by Justices Mohammed Mustapha and Paul Ahmed Bassi, who concurred with the lead decision.

At the hearing of the appeal held on April 7, 2025, the appellants were represented by a legal team led by human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, along with S.O.K. Shillings and Fawaz Odusote. Afees A. Abdullahi, counsel for the 2nd and 3rd respondents, was also in attendance, though none of the respondents filed briefs of argument. The court proceeded to determine the matter solely on the basis of the appellants’ submission.

Guardian.ng

News

JUST IN: Israel Breaks Silence On Netanyahu’s Death Claims; Truth Emerges

Published

8 hours ago

March 15, 2026

The Daily Voice

The office of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has cleared the air over his rumoured death.

It dismissed viral social media claims suggesting the Prime Minister had been assassinated following the escalating conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran.

“These are fake news; the Prime Minister is fine,” the Prime Minister’s office said

DAILY POST reports that the rumours gained traction after a video shared by Netanyahu on his X account on Friday showed him addressing a press conference on the ongoing Israel-US-Iran conflict.

Some social media users, immediate after the video was posted, claimed they had spotted what appeared to be six fingers on Netanyahu’s right hand when he briefly raised it during the speech.

The speculation spread further after US conservative commentator, Candace Owens raised questions on X.

News

Tears As Atiku’s Top Aide Dies, Former Vice President Releases Heartfelt Statement

Published

10 hours ago

March 15, 2026

The Daily Voice

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has announced the death of Mr. Ifeanyi Izeze, a pioneering member of his media team.

The development was announced in a statement issued by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, on Sunday.

The statement said Izeze joined Atiku’s media team in 2006, moving from the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, in Ikot-Abasi, where he served as office manager.

Bringing extensive experience from both journalism and Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, he played a key role in shaping media strategies and campaign policies for Atiku, particularly in the Niger Delta region.

Trained as a geologist at the University of Port Harcourt up to postgraduate level, Izeze later transitioned into journalism, reporting extensively on the oil and gas industry for publications including Sunray, Anchor and NewAge newspapers before joining ALSCON.

Beyond his professional life, Izeze was known for his prodigious sense of humor and devout Christian faith.

He was an ordained preacher in the Christ Embassy denomination and also active in the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.

He is survived by his children, grandchildren, and his elder brother, Pastor Emeka Izeze, known for his work with The Guardian Newspapers..

The Atiku Media Office expressed condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues, praying for God’s comfort and eternal rest for his soul.

Atiku said: “A man with a prodigious sense of humour and a born-again Christian of the Christ Embassy denomination, Ifeanyi was an ordained preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.

“May God give his family, friends, and colleagues the fortitude to bear his demise.”

I mourn the loss of one of the prominent and pioneer members of my media team, Mr Ifeanyi Izeze.

Ifeanyi joined my media team in 2006, from Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), Ikot-Abasi, as Office Manager. He brought to bear on the work of the media team, at that… pic.twitter.com/XvbrDQwTFu

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) March 15, 2026

News

UK-Bound 74-Year-Old Grandpa Arrested With Illicit Drugs At Abuja Airport

Published

12 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Uthman Abdulganiyu

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 74-year-old man, Ikwuakalom Emeka, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of cocaine concealed in food items while travelling to the United Kingdom.

The septuagenarian was apprehended at the departure hall while attempting to board British Airways flight BA082, bound for Heathrow, London, on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

According to a statement released on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, a search of Emeka’s luggage revealed blocks of cocaine wrapped in foil papers and balloons and concealed inside food items, including ground dry pepper.

“A 74-year-old grandpa, Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, has been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after a large consignment of cocaine was discovered in foil papers and balloons concealed in his luggage. The septuagenarian, who claimed he was travelling to London, United Kingdom, for vacation, was arrested at the departure hall while attempting to board British Airways flight BA082 to Heathrow on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

“During a search of his luggage, blocks of cocaine weighing 11 kilograms were discovered concealed inside food items, including ground dry pepper, carefully wrapped in foil papers and balloons,” the statement partly read.

The agency also reported a series of arrests and seizures across other parts of the country.

In Lagos, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives arrested a woman, Maryam Olalowo, at Ikad Hotel and Suites while allegedly attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis. She was with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest.

“In Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence in the early hours of Monday, March 9, arrested Mrs. Maryam Olalowo at Ikad Hotel and Suites on Etim Inyang Street, Victoria Island, while attempting to sell 89 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of Canadian Loud. She was found with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest. She confessed the illicit drugs belonged to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was later taken into custody the same day while his wife was immediately released.

“Ibrahim confirmed ownership of the illicit drugs in his statement, while further investigation revealed that he had previously been arrested, convicted, and sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment for a similar offence in 2015.”

In another Lagos Island operation, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim, after recovering 68,000 tramadol pills loaded in a truck allegedly meant for transport to Benin. A follow-up raid at Idumota Market led to the arrest of Nnamdi Cyprian, believed to be the owner of the consignment. Officers also recovered a parcel containing 1,000 tramadol tablets prepared for waybill delivery from his shop.

Another raid at the market resulted in the arrest of Nwanosike Kelvin and the recovery of 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection.

In separate operations, NDLEA officers arrested Magaji Dan Azumi, 42, with 386 kilograms of skunk in Bebeji, and Isah Wako with 282.2 kilograms of the same substance in Gwagwalada.

In Orhionmwon Local Government Area, operatives raided the Egwa Forest Reserve, arresting Chinedo Odalonu, 33, and destroying 4,218.96 kilograms of skunk on two farms, while recovering 16.5 kilograms.

At Apapa Seaport, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with customs officials, intercepted 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup hidden in two containers that had been watch-listed following intelligence reports.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, commended officers in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Edo states for the arrests and seizures over the past week, urging them to sustain efforts aimed at reducing both the supply and demand of illicit drugs in the country.