ZAEED A. AJAYI NURUDEEN AJAYI MODINAT YOLE ADEEYE AJOSE (FOR THEMSELVES AND ON BEHALF OF OOJABI FAMILY) V. ATTORNEY-GENERAL, OGUN STATE CHIEF AKIN DOSUM U (THE OLUWO OF OTTA, CHAIRMAN OTTA REGENCY COUNCIL) CHIEF S.A. ADESANYA (THE BALOGUN OF OTTA, MEMBER OTTAREGENCY COUNCIL) CHIEF H.A. OJO (THE SERIKI OF OTTA) MEM BER OTTA REGENCY COUNCIL CHIEF MOMOH OLUMUYIWA (THE OLUKOTUN OF OTTA) CHIEF LAWANI KOSEBINU (THE AKOGUN OF OTTA) CHIEF J. AKINBIYI OJO

M.D. MUHAMMAD JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The case that brought about this appeal had a chequered history. Originally, the suit was commenced by the plaintiffs, the appellants herein, against five defendants namely: Oba T.T. Dada, the Olota of Otta, Chief Lasisi Akinremi, the Ajana of Otta, Chief Momoh Ogunmuyiwa, the Olukotun of Otta, Chief Lawani Kosebinu, the Akogun of Otta and Chief J.Akinbiyi Ojo. On the death of the 1st and 2nd defendants, Oba T.T. Dada, the Olota of Otta and Chief LasisiAkinremi, theAjana of Otta, a Regency-in-Council comprising three persons, to wit, Chief Akin Dosunmu, the Oluwa of Otta, Chief S.A. Adesanya, the Balogun of Otta and Chief H. A. Ojo the Seriki of Otta, was substituted particularly for the 1st defendant being the prescribed authority. The Regency-in-Council that had a three-month lifespan was, on application, subsequently substituted by the Ogun stateAttorney-General. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants remained the original defendants on …