Twenty-one years after he ascended the throne of his forebears, the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola was dethroned by the Supreme Court on Friday morning.
Eight years ago, an Oyo State High Court had on January 26, 2011 sacked Oba Adegbola. But he appealed the judgement.
The sacked monarch was installed the Eleruwa in 1998 by the Oyo State Government amidst protests by members of the ruling house that ought to have produced the new Oba after the last Eleruwa, the late Oba Bolanle Olaniyan, who was from the Akalako ruling house. Oba Olaniyan died on May 1, 1994.
Although Adegbola’s nomination and selection by the kingmakers were challenged by the Laribikusi house, which argued that he was not a member of the ruling arm, but belonged to Akalako where the previous king emerged, the state government went ahead to inaugurate him, prompting the legal action.
Those who challenged the authenticity of Adegbola’s claims to the throne were Mr. James Olatunde Idowu and Alhaji Ajao. Joined in the suit besides Adegbola were the Governor of Oyo State, the Attorney General, Ibarapa Local Government, Chief Jacob Adewusi, Chief Femi Atanda, Chief Idowu Okeowo, Chief E. Ojebisi and Mr. Kasali I.
The plaintiffs, represented by their lawyer, Alhaji Lasun Sanusi (SAN), sought eight reliefs in their statement of claims which were all granted by the court. Having summarized all the submissions of the counsel to both sides, Justice Abimbola resolved all the issues in favour of the plaintiffs.