ADEKOYA JOMU OLATUNJI OYENUGA (FOR THEMSELVES AND ON BEHALF OF OLARIBIGBE OLUGANYA ROYAL F AMILY OF IMOTA) V. IKORODU LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAGOS STATE ATTORNEY-GENERAL OKANLAWON ADEBARI MUDASHIRU AGORO

GALINJE JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This is an appeal A against the judgment of Holloway J of the Lagos State High Court in suit No. ID/1425/93 which was delivered on 21st December, 1996. The facts of this case are simple and straight forward. On the 21st dayof January,1993, His Royal Highness, Oba Oredoyin of Imota in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State departed from this world and joined his ancestors. May his gentle soul rest in peace. As a result of the death of his Royal Highness, the stool of the Ranodu of Imota became vacant. By the provision of exhibit D25, which is a registered declaration, that governs the process of nomination of the Ranodu of Imota, it was the turn of Olugayan ruling house to select or nominate a candidate to occupy the vacant stool as the Ranodu of Imota. On the 28th of May, 1993, the 1st respondent, that is, the Ikorodu Local Government published a notice to that effect. Havingpublished the notice aforesaid, the 1st respondent by a let…