Pentouch 
The eleven years legal battle over the right of Alabi Section to the position of the Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland in the Labosinde family was laid to rest on Wednesday 12 August, 2026 at a landmark judgment delivered by Honourable Justice Olawoyin of the Oyo State High Court 8 sitting at Ring Road, Ibadan.
Delivering the over 3 hours judgment in Suit Number 1/720/2022 between Alhaji Ramoni Alabi for Alabi Section vs Alhaji Abdul Wahab Idowu Popoola for the Mosadogun and Alhaji Waheed Babalola of Babalola Onifade Section of Oluwo Afobaje Labosinde family of Ibadanland, Justice Olawoyin pointed that the evidences of the claimant overwhelmed the defendants claims, adding that what the defendant said that Oluwo Bello Alabi was a member of Action Group with late Olubadan Isaac Babalola Akinyele and that made it possible for Alabi”s name to be mentioned in Akinyeles “Iwe Itan Ibadan ati awon ilu agbegbe re….” does not hold any water.
He maintained that, the book sited was written in the year 1911, when there was no nation called Nigeria and definitely no political parties in existence.
Justice Olawoyin in his final judgement pronounced that Alabi is one of the bonafide children of Labosinde and thus has every right to the exalted position of Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland with the same right transfer to all his male descendants as well as the same right with the other sections of Mosadogun and Onifad-Babalola.
However, there was a consequential order by the court that, after the incumbent Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland, Chief Wahab Popoola from Mosadogun section, Alabi section must produce the next Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland.
Speaking, Counsel to Alabi Section, Barrister Folarin Olanitori said he is overjoyed with the judgment pointing that the legal battle started in 2015 immediately the last Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland passed on, adding that one from Alabi Section of the family Mr Fatai Alabi (Deceased) was confirmed by the then Olubadan-in-Council as the next Oluwo Afobaje signed by Mr. K. Liasu but the letter was unceremoniously retrieved with another letter signed by the same Liasu without any reason.
Olanitori said, he advised the Alabi Section to petition the State Government but the Alabi Section decided to challenge the step in court.
”Today, we thank God that the eleven years legal battle was laid to rest and justice was served. So, with this judgement, the judiciary have succeeded in making the masses believe in it as the last hope of a common man” said he.
It will be recalled that Oluwo Afobaje Bello Alabi was installed as Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland twice as he became the Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland first in 1925 to 1938 and he installed Baale Oyewole Foko, who reigned between 1925-1930. He also installed the first Olubadan, Oba Abass Okunola Alesinloye in 1930.
But, in 1938, he was deposed by Oba Abass Alesinloye for having an issue with one Baba Megida, an ally of Oba Alesinloye. . He was later reinstated by Oba I B Akinyele as the rightful Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadanland in 1957 and he installed Oba Yesufu Kobiowu in July 1964 and Oba Salawu Aminu in December same year he occupied the same position until his death in 1971.
