PRINCE DURO ADEREMI LADEJOBI PRINCE (PROPHET) ONAMADEWA LADEJOBI PRINCE ADEBAYO LADEJOBI (FOR THEMSELVES AND ON BEHALF OF THE AFURUKEREGBOYE RULING HOUSE OF IJEBU-IFE) V. OTUNBA AINOFI ADOLORUNSHO OGUNTAYO (THE ORADEREMO OF IJEBU-IFE) CHIEF ADEWALE DUDUYEMI ODUNUGA (THE JEWO-OLU OF IJEBU-IFE) CHIEF SEGUN OSIBOTE (THE ALORAN OF IJEBU-IFE) CHIEF FESTUS JAIYEOLA ADEKOYA (THE ODELE OF IJEBU-IFE) CHIEF B. ADELEYE OSIBADEJO (THE OLUWO OF IJEBU-IFE) CHIEF AJADI OGUNDEKO (THE OGBENI ODI OF IJEBU-IFE) CHIEF SHOSE (THE AGBON OF OKE-IFE, IJEBU-IFE) (SUED FOR THEMSELVES AND AS THE KINGMAKERS OF IJEBU-IFE) THE SECRETARY, IJEBU-IFE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OGUN STATE. THE MILITARY ADMINISTRATOR OF OGUN STATE.

ONALAJA, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th plaintiffs issued a writ of summons for themselves and on behalf of the Afurukeregboye Ruling House of Ijebu-Ife against the 1st to 9th defendants and served the statement of claim along with the writ of summons. Following the now accepted principle of law that a statement of claim supersedes the particulars in the writ of summons.

In paragraph 14, which is the concluding paragraph of the statement of claim, the plaintiffs averred as follows:-

“14. Whereof the plaintiffs’ claim against the defendants as follows:-

1. A declaration that the 1st defendant is not bonafide member of the Afurukeregboye Ruling House of Ijebu- Ife.

2. A declaration that the 1st defendant is not qualified or competent to be nominated to or occupy the stool of the Ajalorun of Ijebu-Ife by virtue of the Ajalorun of Ijebu-Ife Chieftaincy Declaration.

3. An order setting aside the purported nomination and selection of the 1st defendant to occupy …