The Supreme Court judgment affirming the Alaafin as the paramount authority to confer chieftaincy titles in Yorubaland stems from historical and legal precedents. Key points include :
• Historical Significance: The Alaafin’s supremacy is rooted in colonial-era documentation and treaties, such as the 1897 Colonial Intelligence Report, which recognized the Alaafin as the supreme political authority over all Yoruba kingdoms.
• Legal Framework: The 2014 Supreme Court Judgment (SC/104/2008) and the Lagos State White Paper on Chieftaincy Matters (2019) affirm the Alaafin’s exclusive right to confer titles covering Yorubaland.
• Precedent Setting: The 1991 Akinrogun of Yorubaland title controversy, where the Ooni of Ife’s attempt to install a chief sparked a constitutional crisis, reaffirmed the Alaafin’s supremacy.
• Evidence of Supremacy: Ten irrefutable pieces of evidence support the Alaafin’s preeminence, including :
○ British Colonial Recognition: Lord Frederick Lugard’s Official Recognition (1917) and the 1897 Colonial Intelligence Report.
○ Historical Documents: Official minutes of Council meetings (1960-1965) and historical records from the National Archives, Ibadan.
○ Judicial Precedents: Justice Adewale Thompson’s 1978 ruling on chieftaincy jurisdictions and the 2014 Supreme Court Judgment.
• Scholarly Opinions: Historians like Professor Jide Osuntokun and Professor Toyin Falola support the Alaafin’s supremacy based on empirical observations and historical analysis.
These points collectively establish the Alaafin’s paramount authority in conferring chieftaincy titles across Yorubaland.