By GBENGA ARIYIBI

ADO EKITI – The Supreme Court, Monday, deposed the  Olupoti of Ipoti Ekiti, Oba Isaiah Oladele Ayeni, 25 years after his installation.

The apex court also restrained Prince Ayeni from parading himself as the bonafide traditional ruler of the town.
The monarch who is from the Ejisun ruling House of the ancient town of Ipoti was installed in controversial circumstances in 1987 . But his installation was challenged by one Prince Adebayo Osaguna.

The respondents in the suit include: The Governor of Ekiti State, The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; Secretary, Ijero Local Government, one Elijah Oladele , Chief Inurin Abisoye, and Chief Arowolo Eisikin.

In the  judgment delivered by Justice Walter Onnoghen leading four other justices including John Fabiyi, Suleiman Galadima, Nwali Ngwuta and Mary Peter- Odili, the court faulted the process that brought in Prince Ayeni as Olupoti of Ipoti.

The apex Court, which set aside the March 22, 1996 judgment of the appeal court on the matter, upheld the trial court’s judgment of January 15, 1993, which invalidated the ascension of the monarch onto the  traditional stool.