By DAYO JOHNSON

AKURE — THE Court of Appeal, Akure Division, yesterday, dethroned the Zaki of Arigidi-Akoko in Akoko North West area of Ondo State, Oba Yisa Olanipekun.

It ordered the monarch to vacate the throne and stop parading himself as the traditional ruler of the ancient town.

The court also set aside the approval of the state government to the appointment of Olanipekun.

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

While delivering judgment Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Justice Cordilia Jombo-Ofo and Justice Abubakar Gumel unanimously agreed that the approval given to the selection of Olanipekun as the Zaki of Arigidi was done in error.

Justice Gumel said the lower court had on November 3, 2008 ordered the parties in the suit to stay further action on the issue, but that the state government  went ahead on November 5, 2008 to approve the selection.

He however, noted that the injunction granted by the lower court did not affect the action taken by the kingmakers on October 28, 2008.

Oba Olanipekun had approached the Appeal Court to challenge the ruling of Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi of the state High Court which restrained him from parading himself as the traditional ruler of Arigidi-Akoko.

The suit in the lower court, filed by two of the town’s princes, Tunde Olanipekun and Alfred Oloruntola against Salawu Olanipekun and Yisa Olanipekun to challenge the Zaki of Arigidi Chieftaincy Declaration of Arigidi 1989 and the selection and appointment of Olanipekun

…Oba reacts

Meantime, Oba Olanipekun, yesterday, said that he will challenge the Court of Appeal judgement at the the Supreme Court.

He was reacting to the Court of Appeal judgement which sacked him and ordered that he should no more parade himself as traditional ruler of the town.

Oba Olanipekun said: “My selection by the kingmakers cannot be faulted.

“There is no shaking, I am still the Zaki of Arigidi, insha-Allah.”