The Alabi section of the Labosinde family has secured a major victory in its long-running bid to produce the next Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland.
An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, presided over by Justice Babatunde Olawoyin, ruled on Wednesday that the Alabi section should produce the traditional titleholder after the incumbent, Chief Wahab Popoola of the Mosadogun section, leaves office.
The position of Oluwo Afobaje is traditionally reserved for the Labosinde family. The titleholder plays a key role in the traditional rites performed during the installation of an Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The Alabi section had approached the court after alleging that it had been excluded from producing the Oluwo Afobaje since 1971, while the Mosadogun and Onifade-Babalola sections took turns occupying the position.
The suit, numbered 1/720/2022, was filed by Alhaji Ramoni Alabi on behalf of the Alabi section against Alhaji Abdul Wahab Idowu Popoola of the Mosadogun section and Alhaji Waheed Babalola of the Babalola Onifade section.
Delivering judgment, Justice Olawoyin held that the evidence presented by the claimant outweighed that of the defendants. The judge also affirmed that the Alabi section is made up of bona fide descendants of Labosinde and therefore has the same entitlement to the traditional position as the other sections.
The court specifically ordered that the next Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland should come from the Alabi section after the tenure of the incumbent, Chief Wahab Popoola.
The ruling brings a significant development to the internal succession dispute within the Labosinde family, particularly over the rotation of the traditional position.
The judgment also establishes, subject to any appeal or further court proceedings, that the Alabi section should have its turn in producing the next Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland.
