KUDIRAT MOTONMORI OLATOKUNBO KEKERE-EKUN, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the judgment of the High Court of Osun State sitting at Osogbo delivered on the 20th day of January, 2000.
By their Further Amended Writ of Summons and paragraph 41 of the Further Amended Statement of Claim the 1st - 4th plaintiff (the 1st - 4th Respondents herein) sued the 1st Defendant (the Appellant herein) and the 2nd and 3rd Defendants (the 5th and 6th Respondents herein) claiming the following reliefs:
"1. A declaration that Omumuyiwa, Olokungboye, Lakanye and Ijaoye are the male children of Laro (also called Larooye) the first Ata-oja of Osogbo.
2. A declaration that the Plaintiffs, and all male descendants of Omumuyiwa, Olokungboye, Lakanye and Ijaoye constitute the Laro family and are the people entitled to the membership of Laro Ruling House in the Ataoja of Osogbo chieftaincy and are entitled to present candidate(s) for the Ataoja of Osogbo chieftaincy whenever it i…