The Supreme Court has fixed April 11 for the hearing of the four appeals filed in relation to the dispute over who among the two ruling houses of Olugbense and Anilelerin should produce the Olofa of Offa in Kwara State.

The appeals are against the July 9, 2013 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, which upheld the evidence led by representatives of the Olugbense ruling house that the appointment to the Olofa stool was on rotational basis between the two ruling houses.

The appellate held that by the rotational principle, the Olugbense ruling house was entitled to present a successor to the late Oba Mustapha Olawore Olanipekun Ariwajoye II (from Anilelerin house), who died on 2010 and voided the appointment of Alhaji Mufutau Mohammodu Gbadamosi Esuwoye (also from the Anilelerin house) as the deceased Oba's successor.

Last Tuesday, a five-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, fixed the hearing of the appeals for Monday after parties resolved all preliminary issues on the appeals marked SC/647/2013; SC/648/2013; SC/650A/2013 and SC/650/2013.

One of the appeals is that filed by four kingmakers in the community – Alhaji Yunus Bukoye (Essa of Offa), Alhaji Kadir Kolawole Bello (Ojomu of Offa), Alhaji Oseni Olaniyi (Balogun of Offa) and Alhaji Zikirullah Kola Sanni Olabode (Shawo of Offa).

The respondents are Alhaji Saka Adeyemo, Alhaji (Prince) Abdulrauf Adegboyega Keji and Prince Saka Keji (as first, second and third respondents) as the representatives of the Olugbense ruling house in the case. Also listed as respondents in the appeal include Alhaji Gbadamosi Esuwoye (fourth), Attorney General of Kwara State (fifth) and Governor of Kwara State (sixth).