Appeal Court Affirms Removal of Ondo Monarch
23rd April,2026
The Court of Appeal Nigeria sitting in Akure has affirmed the judgment of the Ondo State High Court which removed Oba Babajide Lawrence Oluwole as the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area.
Oba Oluwole was appointed in 2018 following the demise of Oba Timothy Fasawe, with the approval of the Ondo State Government. However, his appointment was challenged by the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House, which argued that he was not a member of the recognised lineage eligible to produce the traditional ruler.
The claimants, through their counsel, Chief Sola Ebiseni, contended that the monarch hailed from the Bamgbala Family, which they said does not form part of the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House. They further argued that the process that led to his emergence was based on a newly introduced ruling quarter system, which they maintained was inconsistent with the customary law of Oke-Igbo.
According to the claimants, the community’s traditional system recognises only five ruling houses, traced to the descendants of the town’s founders, which have historically produced previous occupants of the stool.
In its judgment delivered on April 13, 2023, the Ondo State High Court, presided over by Justice Ademola Enikuomehin, upheld the arguments of the claimants and ordered the removal of Oba Oluwole from the throne.
Dissatisfied with the decision, the monarch, through his counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, filed an appeal challenging the judgment on multiple grounds, including the validity of the applicable customary law and procedural issues relating to the timing of the High Court’s decision.
However, in a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of the appellate court dismissed the appeal for lacking merit, thereby affirming the earlier judgment of the High Court.
Meanwhile, there are indications that the Ondo State Government has approved the appointment of a new Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo from the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House, although official confirmation was still being awaited as of press time.
Speaking on the development, counsel to the successful claimants, Chief Sola Ebiseni, described the appellate court’s decision as a reaffirmation of the customary law governing the Olu-Oke chieftaincy, expressing optimism that it would foster unity in the community.
