The Court of Appeal sitting in Igbosere has adjourned hearing on a suit filed by Mr Saheed Owolabi Momson Aduloju challenging an earlier appellate judgment that removed him as the Abowa of Agbowa-Ikosi in the Ejinrin-Ikosi Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.
The matter was adjourned to October 28 after submissions from counsel representing the Mabudeje Royal Family, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), who urged the court to allow the case proceed on its substantive issues without unnecessary procedural delays.
The panel hearing the case is made up of Justices Boloukuromo Moses Ugo, Samuel Ademola Bola, and Polycarp Terna Kwahar.
Counsel to both sides did not oppose the adjournment.
The dispute stems from a previous judgment of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/LAG/CV/1104/2023, delivered on May 30, 2024, by a panel comprising Justices Muhammed Mustapha, Paul Ahmed Bassi, and Ngozi Uwazurunoye Okaisabor.
In that decision, the appellate court set aside an earlier ruling delivered by the lower court on March 24, 2023, and ordered the removal of Mr Aduloju as the traditional ruler of the community.
The court also affirmed the right of the Mabudeje Royal Family to produce a candidate for the vacant stool of the Abowa of Agbowa-Ikosi and directed the family to proceed with the nomination process.
However, Mr Aduloju has maintained that he was not properly served with the Notice of Appeal and was not informed of the proceedings that led to the judgment.
On their part, counsel for the Mabudeje Royal Family insisted that all relevant parties were duly served, adding that both the Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs were represented throughout the proceedings.
The case is expected to continue on October 28 when further hearing resumes.
