Akure — THE Obaship tussle over the Zaki of Arigidi Akoko in Ondo State, yesterday, deepened as the state government directed Yisa Olanipekun to stop parading himself as the monarch of the town pending the determination of the suit before the Supreme Court.

The state government in two separate letters issued by the ministries of Justice and Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, ordered the immediate stoppage of all the entitlements being paid to the monarch.

The state government action came on the heels of a Court of Appeal verdict which sacked the Oba and set aside his appointment.

Court of Appeal sitting in Akure had in June asked him to stop parading self as the traditional ruler of the town.

Ruling on an appeal brought by Olanipekun against the ruling of the state High Court which had earlier ordered him to vacate the seat, the appellate court held that the approval was done in disobedience to an order of the court.

A  letter from the ministry of Justice and signed by its Director, Civil Litigation, Olufunmilayo Adejumo, said there was no valid and subsisting  approval of any person as Zaki of Arigidi.