CHIEF EMMANUEL OGUNBADEJO V. OTUNBA A.L.A OWOYEMI

OGUNDARE, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The defendant (who is now the appellant before us), is the head of the Kingmakers to the Dagburewe of Idowa Chieftaincy. At all times relevant to this action, that is, 1982, there was a vacancy in the chieftaincy. The plaintiff (who is now the respondent before us) and one Alhaji Yinusa Adekoya were nominated by the Agbonmagbe Ruling House to fill the vacancy. The kingmakers met and made a recommendation to the Governor of Ogun State. Protests followed and the State Government set up an administrative panel to look into the dispute.

Meanwhile, one B.O. Akala of the Arijeloye Royal family of ldowa had on 6th September, 1982, written a letter to the plaintiff, a copy of which was sent to the defendant. During the proceedings of the fact finding administrative panel set up by the Ogun State Government. The defendant produced his own copy of the said letter and handed it over to the chairman of the panel. The chairman read out the letter…