The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by Michael Onakoya challenging the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal’s decision, which upheld the lower court’s judgment to dethrone him as the king and Orijeru of Igbooye land, Epe.
In the case SC//CV//969/2024, Justice Adamu Jauro ruled that Onakoya’s appeal was incompetent due to its late filing.
The judgment stated, “The court observed that the Notice of appeal on page 442 of the record was filed on June 29, 2020, against the decision delivered by the Court of Appeal Lagos Division on March 26, 2020, which was out of the time prescribed by Section 27 of the Supreme Court Act. Though learned Prof. Yusuf Ali (SAN) for the 7th respondent has urged the court to hear the appeal, we do not deem it proper to hear an incompetent appeal.
“Consequent upon the foregoing, the Notice of Appeal filed June 29, 2020, in Appeal No. SC/969/2020 is incompetent having been filed outside the time prescribed by Section 27 of the Supreme Court Act, and it is hereby struck out. Notice of appeal is hereby struck out.”
In March 2020, the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, affirmed the Lagos High Court’s judgment from Igbosere that dethroned Onakoya as the traditional ruler of Igbooye land, Epe.
Unhappy with the decision, the deposed king appealed to the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn the judgment delivered on April 19, 2016, by Justice Iyabo Kasali. However, the three-man panel comprising Justice Mohammad Lawal, Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu, and Justice Jamilu Tukur unanimously dismissed Onakoya’s appeal, stating it lacked merit.
Alleluia is the Assistant Editor and Content Writer at LagosPost.ng. She is a prolific writer and editor, she has written features and news stories on Lifestyle, Sports, Business, Politics and B2B marketing. She is also an event coordinator, host and social media content creator.
