The Supreme Court will on Friday deliver its judgment in an appeal challenging the decision of Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which on December 12, 2009 dethroned the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr. Ado Ibrahim, the paramount traditional ruler of Ebira Kingdom, Kogi State.
Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, who led a five-man panel of Justices of the apex court, had fixed June 5 for judgment after listening to counsel to parties in the suit who adopted their final brief of arguments.
Dr. Ibrahim was sued by a group of Ebira chieftaincy stool stakeholders in 1998 following his alleged wrongful appointment on June 2, 1997 by the then Kogi State Military Administrator Colonel Bzigu Afakirya.
The plaintiffs had joined seven other contestants, Kogi State Government and Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice as respondents in the suit.
The presiding judge, Justice Tanko Hussein of Kogi State High Court, on April 2, 2006 ruled that Ibrahim’s appointment by the state government was “illegal and fraudulent” because it breached the state and Ebira Chieftaincy laws.
Consequently, the judge ordered his removal from the throne.
Not satisfied with the judgement, the prominent traditional ruler appealed to the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which in a judgment delivered by Justice Mary Peter Odili on December 12, 2009, upheld the judgment of a Kogi State High Court.
Still not satisfied, the monarch approached the Supreme Court on the grounds that the findings of the courts were in error.
He prayed the court to set aside the decision of the lower and affirm his appointment.
The Kogi State Government also sought leave of the court for an order to file its own appeal separately, which was granted.
Many plaintiffs who initiated the suit had died, thereby necessitating a string of amendments and attendant delays in the suit over the years.
Respondents in the appeal are: Alhaji Maigida Lawal, Alhaji Momoh Jimoh, Alhaji Ibrahim Ohida, Alhaji Ahmadu Anivbassa, Alhaji Isa Sani Omolori, Engineer Idris Seriki and Comrade Momoh Sanni.