LAWANI ALLI & ANOR VS ALESINLOYE & ORS
June 26, 2025NIYI AKINMOJU VS THE STATE
June 26, 2025Legalpedia Citation: (2000-04) Legalpedia 95754 (SC)
In the Supreme Court of Nigeria
Holden at Lagos
Fri Apr 7, 2000
Suit Number: SC 75/1994
CORAM
A.G. KARIBI-WHYTE, JUSTICE SUPREME COURT
M.E. OGUNDARE, JUSTICE SUPREME COURT
A.I. IGUH, JUSTICE SUPREME COURT
S.O. UWAIFO, JUSTICE SUPREME COURT
E.O. AYOOLA, JUSTICCE SUPREME COURT
PARTIES
1. CHIEF OMONIYI FAYEHUN
2. ABRAHAM AJAYI
3. NOFIU AJANGBARA
4. EZEKIEL OLUYIDE
5. OLU BELLO
6. ADELEYE ORUNKOYI
7. DABOKU OLASEINDE
8. MOBISOLA FASULERE
9. OLADAPO AWODEY
APPELLANTS
1.CHIEF R.A. FADOJU
2. TIMOTHY AJAYI
3. BAKARE OMODARE
4. HANNAH OLUBODUN
5. E.A. ADEGOKE
6. A. SODEHINDE
7. T. KOLAWOLE
8. K. ESO
9. MRS. A. ADEGOKE
10. E. ESO
11. J.B. ALAKURO
12. J.O. ALAKURO
13. V.M. KOLAWOLE
14. S.I. OMOTOLA
15. R.O. ADESUGBA
16. E.O. ADELEYE
17. O. ALIU
18. COL. ADARAMOLA
19. F.O. DADA
20. V.M. ADEJUWON
21. S.O. KUPONIYI
22. G.A. OLOGUNAGBA
23. Y.R. IJAROTIMI
24. F. OKE
25. E. ADEJUYIGBE
26. A.O. BAKARE
27. J.L. OLAGUNJU
28. S.O. MESHIDA
29. O. AKINDAHUNSI
30. M.M. AKINFISOYE
31. PROF. S.A. ALUKO
32. S.K. BABALOLA
33. T. ADEJUYIGBE
34. T. ESHO
35. E.A. ADELADUN
36. G.F. ESAN
37. DR. ADEGOKE
38. G.R.A. KOLAWOLE
39. OLOGUN GBEDE
40. KEHINDE AKINFISOYE
41. F. ADUN
42. S.A. AKINLADE
43. MIKE BORISADE
44. OLAIYA ONI
45. R.O. MODUPE
46. M. IYUN
47. MR. OYEWUMI
48. J. ADENIYI
49. M. OGUNBIYI
50. MR. AKINROWO
51. AMB. A.B. AYODELE
52. T.O. AJAYI
53. DR. A.A ADETUNJI
54. DR. JIDE ESHO
55. L.O. ESHO
56. VICTOR ADEJUWON
57. A. ADESUYI
58. GOKE AKINGBADE
59. JIDE APANISILE
60. O. FARUNKANMI
61. J. AYO ADEWUMI
62. ADEPOJU A.B.
63. S.I. FAPOHUNDA
64. MRS. B. ESHO
65. EJUETAMO WILLIAMS
66. MRS. B.O. MODUPE
67. J.K. KOLAWOLE
68. F.K. AJAYI
69. MRS. V. OMOTOLA
69. OKUN AKINFISOYE
70. MRS. ADELADUN
71. R.A. FABA
72. M.A. AYENI
73. J. ADEBAYO ADEWUNMI
RESPONDENTS
AREA(S) OF LAW
LAND LAW- FAMILY LAND- SALE OF SAME BY FAMILY HEAD- WHEN COULD BE VOIDED
SUMMARY OF FACTS
The appellant sought to challenge the sale of plots of land belonging to the family by the 1st defendant who is the head of the family acting in concurrence with some other members of the family.
HELD
The court held that the appellants having admitted that the 1st defendant was the head of the family and he sold with the concurrence of other principal members, the sale can not be voided.
ISSUES
1. Whether in the absence of legal and credible evidence in proof of the requirements by law for a valid disposition of family land under the Yoruba Customary Law, the Court of Appeal can still proceed to confirm the judgment of the lower court which declared as valid the sales made by the 1st – 4th respondents to the 5th – 75th respondents in violation of such principles of law.
2. Whether upon the failure of the 1st – 4th respondents to prove their capacity Authority to represent or power of attorney to act on behalf of the family in the disposition of the family land, the Court of Appeal is right to hold that the sales so made cannot be set aside.
RATIONES DECIDENDI
A SALE OF FAMILY LAND BY THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF OTHER PRINCIPAL MEMBERS IS ONLY VOIDABLE AND NOT VOID
“It is well settled that a sale of family land by the head of family is only voidable where it is made without the concurrence of principal members of the family. Such a sale is not void but merely voidable. But where family property is sold by members of the family without the concurrence of the head of the family such a sale is void”…OGUNDARE JSC
CASES CITED
1 Ekpendu v. Erika (1959) 4 FSC 79;
2 City Property Development Ltd. v. Attorney-General of Lagos State (1976) 1 SC. 71, Solomon v. Mogaji (1982) 11 SC. 1, 7-10 69,
3 Lukan v. Ogunsusi (1972) 5 SC. 40 at pp.46-48.
STATUTES REFERRED TO
None.
