The Ado Ekiti Division of the Federal Court of Appeal has declared as invalid, the selection of Oba Ilesanmi Ajibade as the Owa of Odo Ayedun.
Justice E.O Dawodu-Williams, in the verdict of the appeal panel, resolved all the issues formulated for determination in favour of the respondent, Prince Adeniyi Adekunle, and consequently affirmed the judgment of an Ikole Ekiti High Court on the obaship tussle.
The lower court had earlier nullified the selection and appointment of the monarch, saying the selection process which produced him was faulty.
The Appeal Court, in its verdict on Tuesday, held that “Ekiti State Government erred to have cancelled the first selection process and having ordered for a fresh one since it has no absolute powers in law to do so”.
The court, however, validated the first selection process held on November 2, 2009, which produced Prince Adeniyi, an assistant director in the state Ministry of Information, as Owa of Odo Ayedun Ekiti.
Justice Dawodu-Williams held that “there is no evidence before the court which shows that the selection process that produced the claimant was marred by violence as alleged by the appellant” and consequently dismissed the appeal “for lacking in merit”.
While counsel for the respondent/claimant, Mr T. J. Omidoyin, described the judgment as “a deserving one,” counsel for the monarch, Mr Obafemi Adewale, said the judgment would be appealed before the Supreme Court.
Following the installation of the monarch in 2009, Prince Adebiyi had approached an Ikole Ekiti High Court, urging it to nullify the selection process that produced the king and upheld the first one conducted that produced him.