KEPHAS GATA KPEZANYASHI & ORS V. MAIANGWA YAMUSA JEZHI & ORS

ONYEKACHI AJA OTISI, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the judgment of the Nasarawa State High Court Coram John A. Viko J. delivered on July 18, 2016 in favour of the Respondents, against the Appellants.

The Respondents as plaintiffs had instituted this action claiming principally against the Appellants, as defendants that the 11th Respondent was entitled to be crowned the Sakoya of Koya village having been validly selected or nominated by the 1st-10th Respondents. It was their case that the Respondents' decision to nominate the 11th Respondent as the first Sakoya of Koya village was premised on the fact that the 11th Respondent's family was the first to settle in Koya village. The Appellants disagreed with the decision of the 1st-10th Respondents nominating the 11th Respondent as the first Sakoya, claiming that the family of the first Appellant was first to settle at Koya and so entitled to ascend to the throne of the Sakoya. At the conclusion of hear…