Court Confirms Alhaji Mathew Opaluwa as Attah Igala

On a ruling made on Wednesday, Justice Umar affirmed the appointment of Alhaji Mathew Opaluwa as the Attah Igala, dismissing the claims of Prince Abdullahi Adejo Aliyu Obaj. The court found that Obaj failed to prove the existence of any binding customary law that restricts succession exclusively to the direct son of the former Attah.

The judgment referenced the Kogi State Chief Law of 2006 and modifications made to the native law and custom in 2015. The defense presented documents showing that the Igala Traditional Council had modified the native law and custom, which was gazetted as No. 2 of 2015.

Justice Umar stated that the foundation of the claimant's case collapsed due to a lack of credible evidence, particularly in matters of chieftaincy. Consequently, the court dismissed the suit in its entirety, affirming the legitimacy of Opaluwa's appointment as the 7th Attah Igala.