The Court of Appeal in Lagos has scheduled October 28, 2026, for the hearing of arguments in the ongoing legal battle over the vacant Abowa of Agbowa Ikosi stool in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
Adjournment and Preliminary Submissions
The panel of justices, comprising Samuel Ademola Bola, Boloukuromo Moses Ugo, and Kwahar Polycarp Terna, adjourned the proceedings during the last sitting after hearing preliminary submissions from the parties involved.
The legal tussle stems from a May 30, 2025, appellate court judgment that removed Saheed Owolabi Momson Aduloju from the throne. That ruling set aside an earlier March 2023 High Court decision and declared the stool vacant.
Deposed Monarch's Motion
In response to his removal, the deposed monarch filed a motion seeking to set aside the judgment, citing a lack of service. He contended that he was not formally notified of the appeal hearing by the appellants and has applied for a stay of execution.
Respondents' Position
The respondents in the case, representing the Mabudeje Royal Family, called on the Lagos State Government and the Ikosi Ejinrin Local Council Development Area to uphold the previous appellate ruling. In a statement issued by Prince Adenuga Lateef Kunle, the family challenged the deposed monarch's claim of non-service.
The family noted that legal representatives for the Lagos State Governor and the Attorney General were consistently present during proceedings. They further argued that the previous judgment explicitly authorized the Mabudeje family to nominate a candidate for the stool.
Current Leadership and Historical Claims
Current town leadership remains with the Regent, High Chief Wasiu Asodun, the Oluwo of Agbowa Ikosi. The Mabudeje family maintained that the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration of Lagos State recognizes their line as the fourth ruling house of the community.
The ongoing dispute is further complicated by divergent historical accounts regarding the right of occupancy to the stool. The Mabudeje family traces its lineage to Oba Anikilaya Ogbagba Agbatewole of Ijebu Ode, asserting that their ancestors were among the original settlers who migrated from Egunmasawo to the current Agbowa Ikosi location. They argued that their right to the throne is rooted in this aborigine status and established chieftaincy declarations.
Conversely, the Mabudeje family maintained that the Aduloju lineage had arrived later. According to their records, the Aduloju family's involvement in local politics began during the colonial era when Momodu Opetade Aduloju was purportedly granted a staff of office by British authorities after acting as a liaison between the community and European missions.
The Mabudeje family contended that this parallel authority created by colonial powers does not amount to a traditional hereditary right, a claim that remains a central point of contention in the legal proceedings.
With the adjournment to October 28, 2026, the community remains under the administration of a regency pending the final resolution of the matter.
