The Federal Court of Appeal, Akure Division has dethroned the traditional ruler, known as the Zaki of Arigidi-Akoko in Akoko Northwest Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The court ordered the monarch, Yisa Olanipekun, to vacate the seat and stop parading himself as the traditional ruler of the town.

This is sequel to an appeal brought by Mr. Olanipekun against the ruling of the State High Court which had earlier ordered him to vacate the seat.

Delivering the judgment of the three-man panel of judges, Justice Abubakar Gumel said the approval given to the selection of Mr. Olanipekun as the Zaki of Arigidi was done in error.

He said the lower court had on 3 November 2008 ordered the parties in the suit to stay further action on the issue. However, the state government went ahead on 5 November 2008 to approve the selection of the monarch.

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

Justice Gumel, however, ordered that the substantive suit be taken back to the State High Court to be handled by another judge apart from Justice Kumuyi.