SANUSI JSC (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This appeal emanates from the judgment of the Ilorin Division of the Court of Appeal (“the lower court”, for short) delivered on 9 July 2013, which allowed the 1st to 3rd respondents’ joint appeal, and granted all the reliefs sought in the statement of claim of the plaintiffs/appellants as opposed to the decision of the trial High Court of Kwara State sitting in Offa which had on 21 July 2013 which had earlier dismissed the plaintiffs/appellants’ claim filed thereat.
This case had a chequered history. It is a case of chieftaincy tussle between Anilelerin and Olugbense ruling houses of Offa, in Kwara State of Nigeria. The tussle is basically on who is the rightful person from the two ruling house to occupy the position of Olofa of Offa on the basis of rotation after the demise of the erstwhile Olofa of Offa, Ola Mustapha Olawore Olanipekun II who was from the Anilelerin ruling house who ruled for forty (40) years and his ruling house, Anilele…