Supreme Court dethrones monarch in Oyo

The Supreme Court has dethroned a first-class monarch in Oyo state, the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola.

Adegbola had in 2013 lost a 15-year battle to retain his throne at the court of appeal sitting in Ibadan.

The monarch and six others brought a suit against Mr James Olatunde Idowu and four others following a judgment delivered by justice Ladipo Abimbola of the state high court on January 26, 2011, that the current Eleruwa was wrongly picked for the throne.

Justice Monica Dongban-mensan, delivering the judgment, thanked the counsels, for their industry, and dismissed the appeal of the appellant.

Justice Dongban-mensan, who examined some issues raised by the appellant, said the eminent jury were satisfied with the process in which the earlier court conducted the case.

Oba Adegbola became the Eleruwa in 1998, following the death of his predecessor, Oba Bolanle Olaniyan in 1994.

His removal by an Oyo state high court on the grounds that his selection, nomination and approval by the state government were irregular, null and void, was affirmed by the federal high court.

His opponent, Rasheed Oyedepo said the victory of the over-a-decade legal battle has confirmed that the judiciary remains the hope of the common man.