By Ayodele Quadri, Lagos Times Correspondent
IBADAN, NIGERIA — An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has ruled that it is the turn of the Alabi section of the historic Labosinde family to produce the next Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland.
Delivering judgment in suit number I/720/2022, Justice Babatunde Olawoyin of Oyo State High Court 8 held that the Alabi branch has been unlawfully excluded from the prestigious traditional stool since 1971 and possesses equal rights to the title alongside the other two sections of the family.
The Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland holds a pivotal role in Ibadan tradition, as the titleholder is responsible for performing the core traditional installation rites for every new Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Key Legal & Operational Highlights
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Rotation Order Restored: The court ruled that upon the vacancy of the office by the current incumbent, Chief Abdul Wahab Idowu Popoola of the Mosadogun section, the Alabi section must be allowed to present the successor.
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Background of the Legal Dispute: The suit was instituted by Alhaji Ramoni Alabi on behalf of the Alabi section against Alhaji Abdul Wahab Idowu Popoola (Mosadogun section) and Alhaji Waheed Babalola (Babalola Onifade section) after the Alabi section was denied the opportunity to produce candidates for the stool.
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Judicial Findings: Justice Olawoyin affirmed that evidence presented by the claimants proved Alabi is a bona fide lineage of Labosinde, giving the branch full customary rights to the chieftaincy title.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ OLUWO AFOBAJE OF IBADANLAND CHIEFTAINCY MATRIX │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Presiding Judge : Justice Babatunde Olawoyin (Oyo High Court 8) │
│ • Suit Reference : I/720/2022 │
│ • Ruling Date : Wednesday, August 12, 2026 │
│ │
│ • Claimant : Alhaji Ramoni Alabi (For Alabi Section) │
│ • Defendants : • Alhaji Abdul Wahab Idowu Popoola (Mosadogun) │
│ • Alhaji Waheed Babalola (Babalola Onifade) │
│ │
│ • Key Customary Role : Performs core traditional rites during the │
│ installation of the Olubadan of Ibadanland │
│ │
│ • Core Judgment : Alabi section confirmed as bona fide descendants │
│ and ordered to produce the NEXT Oluwo Afobaje │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘“Outweighed the Defendants’ Evidence”
“The evidence of the claimant outweighed that produced by the defendants… Alabi is one of the bonafide children of Labosinde and has every right to the position of Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland, just like the Mosadogun and Onifade-Babalola sections.” — Justice Babatunde Olawoyin, Oyo State High Court
“After the incumbent Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland, Chief Wahab Popoola of the Mosadogun section leaves the position, the Alabi section should be allowed to produce the next Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland.” — Justice Babatunde Olawoyin
