The children of the late Oba Momoh Sani Momodu II, the former paramount ruler of the Agbede Community in Edo State, have kicked against what they described as misrepresentation of facts in respect of the succession to the Agbede royal throne.
This was contained in a statement titled “Agbede Chieftaincy: Setting the Records Straight on the Succession of Oba Momodu II” and signed on behalf of the children by Mariam Ohanmu ( First Daughter of Late Oba M.S Momodu) and Fatai Momodu ( Son of the Late Oba M.S. Momodu).
The Children, according to the statement, referred to a publication in one of the national dailies by an alleged faceless group which erroneously claimed that Prince Shayau Sani Momodu foisted himself as the Oba of Agbede
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a report in a national daily of March 16, 2026, titled “Edo Community Seeks Okphebholo’s Intervention in Chieftaincy Crisis, the facts of the matter”.
“We are writing to formally address and correct the deliberate misrepresentations regarding the succession of the late Oba Momoh Sani Momodu II, the former paramount ruler of the Agbede Community in Edo State.
“It is evident from the false allegations contained in that report that the group in question is a hurriedly assembled body aiming to cause mischief and stoke disharmony among the peaceful people of Agbede. To set the records straight, we provide the following facts:
*The Legitimacy of Prince Shayau Sani Momodu: The claim that Prince Shayau Sani Momodu is “falsely parading himself” as the new monarch is entirely baseless. Prince Shayau is the rightfully chosen and popular successor selected to ascend the throne following the demise of Oba Momodu II in 2018.
“Given his status as the consensus choice of the kingmakers, the accusation that he “broke into the palace” is not only preposterous but logically flawed.
*Judicial Affirmation of Succession Rights: “The group’s allusion to pending litigation omits critical context. On January 12, 2026, Justice U.I. Erameh delivered a significant ruling upholding the Bendel State Legal Notice 46 of 1987. The court affirmed that the Athebedha Ruling House holds the exclusive right to nominate a candidate for the throne”
The statement also stated that following this judgment, the Ruling House, the Council of Chiefs, and the broader community unanimously approved the selection of Prince Shayau Sani Momodu.
Clarifying the Status of Litigation, the statement further stated, “While a member of the ruling house, Abdul-Lateef Momodu, initially sought an ex-parte motion to halt the installation process, it is important to note the current legal and social reality:
“The community previously resisted attempts by Abdul-Lateef to foist himself on the throne, preferring the academic qualifications and character of Prince Shayau.
“Cross-motions were filed to maintain the status quo pending the substantive suit and Most significantly, the ongoing legal challenge has become largely academic, as Prince Abdul-Lateef himself has since declared his full support for his brother, Prince Shayau Momodu, as the next Oba of Agbede.
“Prince Shayau Sani Momodu remains the carefully selected candidate for the throne and has been turbanned in accordance with ancient tradition and awaits the official presentation of the staff of office by the Edo State Government.
“We therefore urge the general public and the media to be wary of “fifth columnists” whose sinister intentions are to create an artificial atmosphere of strife, as Agbede community remains united in its choice of leadership” the statement further declared.