The Court of Appeal ruled against the monarch.
The Court of Appeal, Ibadan division, on Monday, dismissed the prayers brought before it by the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Samuel Adegbola.
The monarch, who was dethroned by an Oyo State High Court on January 26, 2011, had approached the appellate court for an order to quash the verdict.
Giving the verdict in 2011, Justice Ladipo Abimbola affirmed that the processes that brought the monarch to the throne were irregular, declaring them null and void; and thus ordered that Mr. Adegbola vacates the seat.
Dissatisfied with the judgement, the monarch filed an appeal, which was dismissed on Monday.
While presenting his lead judgement, which lasted more than 50 minutes, Justice M.B. Dongba-Mensan said he had examined all issues raised by the appellant, declaring that his team was satisfied with the processes and pronouncement of the lower court on the matter brought before them. He commended counsels to the parties in the petition for their industry.
The appeal, filed by Mr. Adegbola and six others against James Idowu and four others, was sequel to the judgment of Justice Abimbola, which he faulted the way he got to the throne.
Mr. Adegbola emerged the Eleruwa in 1998, following the death of his predecessor, Bolanle Olaniyan, in 1994. In dethroning Mr. Adegbola, the High Court ruled that his selection, nomination and approval by the state government were irregular, null and void.
The deposed monarch has indicated his intention to go for further appeal. He told reporters at the Appeal Court premises that his legal team would proceed to the Supreme Court to fight their case.
Meanwhile, the challenger, Rasheed Ajao, has also described the judgement as victory for the people of the ancient town.
“Today, the entire Eruwa community is set free as a result of the judiciary which restored our hope. We stood by truth for 15 years that Samuel Adegbola was illegally picked by some cabal in Eruwa but today, God revealed himself.
“I thereby called on Oyo State government to ensure the implementation of the court order,” he said.
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