The tussle over the stool of Olofa of Offa has now shifted to the Appeal Court sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Earlier in July, a High Court sitting in Offa had dismissed the suit filed by Alhaji Sheu Oyeniyi, Magaji of the Olugbense ruling house, seeking to invalidate the Obaship of the current Olofa, Alhaji Mufutau Gbadamosi, Esuwoye II of Anilelerin ruling house.

In the appeal filed on December 20, counsel to the appellants/claimants, John Olusola Baiyeshea (SAN), had prayed the court to set aside the judgement of the High Court which was in favour of Oba Gbadamosi.

Baiyeshea argued that "the trial judge wrongly rejected exhibit 'G' in evidence which is the original copy of the Kwara State Government press statement of 1969 informing the general public and the whole world that the chieftaincy crisis in Offa was resolved by the government which recognised two ruling houses in Offa i.e the Olugbense and the Anilelerin ruling houses which by that, established rotational chieftaincy in Offa between the two ruling houses.

"A combination of credible, cogent, concrete, strong oral and documentary evidence and exhibits presented by the claimants/appellants are strong enough to be relied upon to give judgement in favour of the claimants.

"The purported appointment of Alhaji Gbadamosi (who is the fifth respondent) is liable to be nullified, and the second claimant/appellant, Prince Abdulrauf Adegboyega Keji, is entitled to be declared and installed as the Olofa of Offa." No date has, however, been fixed for hearing by the Appeal Court.