- Oba Owolabi Saheed Momson has filed a motion to nullify his removal, citing that court documents were signed by an unlicensed lawyer.
- The deposed monarch alleges he was never served court papers or notified of the appeal, denying him fair hearing.
- He insists the Court of Appeal judgment was procedurally flawed and calls on the community to remain calm while seeking justice.
A fresh legal storm is brewing over the revered stool of Agbowa-Ikosi, Lagos State, as deposed monarch Oba Owolabi Saheed Momson has filed a motion at the Court of Appeal seeking to nullify the judgment that removed him from office.
Ekohotblog reports that in a dramatic twist, the embattled monarch alleges that the court processes used to secure his removal were signed by a man who was not qualified to practise law in Nigeria at the time, rendering the entire case “fundamentally defective and unconstitutional.”
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Oba Momson, in a sworn affidavit submitted to the appellate court, claimed that S.O.K. Shillings, the lawyer who prepared and signed the originating Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim in the initial High Court case filed by Prince Babatunde Adenusi and others, was not a licensed legal practitioner at the time of filing.
“This is not just a technical issue. It strikes at the very root of justice and due process,” Oba Momson stated.
“A man who was not entitled to practise law in Nigeria initiated the suit that led to my removal. That makes the entire proceeding a nullity. It was an ambush.”
In addition to the alleged misconduct, the former monarch raised serious concerns about denial of fair hearing. According to him, he was never served with a Notice of Appeal nor any legal documents relating to the appellate court process.
He told the court that he only became aware of the Court of Appeal’s May 30, 2025 ruling on June 1, 2025, when jubilant members of the opposing royal family took to the streets of Agbowa Town in celebration.
“I was inside my palace holding a meeting with my chiefs and Baales when I received the shocking news,” he recounted.
“Nobody served me. Nobody told me. I did not participate in any appeal because I never knew one was ongoing.”
Oba Momson’s legal team, led by veteran lawyer Gbenga Ojo, began an investigation, only to discover that the Court of Appeal had delivered judgment virtually, via Zoom, in a session the monarch insists he was deliberately kept in the dark about.
Oba Momson had earlier won a decisive victory at the Lagos State High Court on March 23, 2023, in Suit No. IKD/1124/GCMW/15.
The court affirmed his nomination and installation as the rightful Abowa of Agbowa-Ikosi, based on the provisions of the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Lagos State.
Following the High Court ruling, the Lagos State Government officially installed him as monarch on May 28, 2023, after which he began discharging traditional responsibilities from the palace.
“I was installed by the authority of the law and the Lagos State Government. The Appeal Court judgment has now tried to undo eight years of legal proceedings, without even giving me a chance to be heard,” he lamented.
Beyond the issue of legal representation, Oba Momson also faulted the procedural conduct of the appeal.
He claims the Records of Appeal were transmitted more than five months after the Notice of Appeal was filed, far outside the timeline permitted under the Court of Appeal Rules, 2021.
“No application was filed to regularise the delay. This makes the appeal incompetent and void. The court had no jurisdiction to hear it,” his counsel Gbenga Ojo argued.
He further urged the appellate court to exercise its inherent powers and set aside the judgment on the grounds of irregularity, breach of fair hearing, and jurisdictional error.
The legal tussle has heightened tensions in Agbowa-Ikosi, a community already fraught with succession disputes. However, Oba Momson has called for calm and restraint from his supporters.
“I urge my people to remain peaceful. Let us have faith in the rule of law. I am confident that justice will prevail and the truth will be upheld,” he said in a message to residents.
The unfolding legal battle could have far-reaching implications, not only for the kingship of Agbowa-Ikosi but also for professional accountability within Nigeria’s legal system.
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If the allegations against S.O.K. Shillings are proven true, disciplinary actions may follow from the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
The case is scheduled to come up for hearing at the Court of Appeal in the coming weeks.
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