By Our Reporter
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has re-affirmed the appointment of Zaki of Arigidi-Akoko in Akoko Northwest of Ondo State, Oba Yisa Olanipekun, following a protracted legal battle.
In a judgment delivered recently, in the case between Andrew Oloruntola and Pa Salau Olanipekun and two others, Justice Adamu Jauro, in the presence of four other Supreme Court Justices, struck out the case for want of deligent prosecution.
The case, with appeal number SC. 439/2013, had been filed on August 14, 2013.
Another case on the same Kingship tussle, between Prince Tunde Olanipekun and Pa Salau & two others, was also struck out by Justice Jauro, having been withdrawn earlier by the appellant.
The case, with appeal number SC 337/2014, for leave of Cross-Appeal and for Stay of Proceedings, was filed on June 16, 2014.
The appellants, Oloruntola and Tunde Olanipekun, had been challenging the appointment of Oba Yisa Olanipekun by the kingmakers in the town as Zaki on October 28, 2008.
But after a lower court set aside the approval of the state government on the appointment of Olanipekun as Zaki of Arigidi, the monarch and the late Pa Salau Olanipekun, who was the Head of Irara Chieftaincy Family, headed for the Appeal Court.
The Appeal Court subsequently affirmed Zaki's appointment, vacating the order of the lower court.
Dissatisfied with the Appeal Court ruling, the appellants then proceeded to the Supreme Court.
Justice Jauro's judgment has, therefore, brought to an end the long-drawn legal battle over the throne of the Zaki of Arigidi-Akoko.
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