‘It’s Alabi’s turn to produce next Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland’ – Court rules

The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has ruled that it is now the turn of the Alabi branch of the Labosinde family to produce the next Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland. Justice Babatunde Olawoyin handed down the decision on Wednesday while ruling on a lawsuit brought forth by the Alabi branch. The suit emerged from the Alabi branch being denied the chance to produce the Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland by the other two branches of the family.

The Labosinde family possesses a reserved position for the Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland, with the incumbent fulfilling the most crucial traditional rites during the installation of an Olubadan of Ibadanland. The Alabi branch has faced exclusion from this role since 1971 by the other two branches within the Labosinde family. However, Justice Olawoyin determined that the next Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland should be produced by the Alabi branch of the Labosinde family.

The judgment was based on the overwhelming evidence presented by the claimant, Alhaji Ramoni Alabi, against the defendants, Alhaji Abdul Wahab Idowu Popoola of the Mosadogun branch and Alhaji Waheed Babalola of the Babalola Onifade branch. The judge emphasized that Alabi is one of the legitimate children of Labosinde and affirmed that the Alabi branch holds the same rights to the Oluwo Afobaje position as the Mosadogun and Onifade-Babalola branches.

Furthermore, Justice Olawoyin ruled that after the current Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland, Chief Wahab Popoola of the Mosadogun branch, departs from the position, the Alabi branch should be granted the opportunity to produce the subsequent Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland.