The Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, has been informed that Alhaji Mufutau Gbadamosi who was in July 2013 sacked from the stool of Olofa of Offa, is flouting the order of the court which restrained him from parading himself as the traditional ruler of the community.
This was contained in a counter-affidavit in opposition to the respondent and applicant’s motion on notice filed yesterday before the Appeal Court in Ilorin as deposed to by the third appellant, Prince Saka Keji, copies made available to journalists.
Prince Keji claimed that the paragraphs 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 as contained in Alhaji Mufutau Mohammodu Gbadamosi’s supporting affidavit are totally falsehood.
According to the document, “Contrary to the averments in the applicant’s affidavit, and in specific response to the paragraphs 23, 24, 25, 27, and 28, it is not in the interest of justice to grant an application for stay which will have the effect of undermining and undoing the judgment of this court.
“In further response, the applicant is guilty of misconduct in that, through his agents, privies and by himself personally, he has treated the judgment of this court with impunity, contempt and utter disregard. He has been parading himself as the Olofa of Offa by driving in long convoy of cars, sirens blowing and display of insignia of office as Olofa of Offa.
“During the last Eid Fitr celebration, Alhaji Mufutau Mohammodu Gbadamosi paraded himself by going to the Eid praying ground with a handful of people; including the kingmakers; Essa, Ojomu, Balogun and Shawo of Offa and in full regalia of Olofa of Offa as if there is no judgment of this court in existence at all.”
The claimant further maintained that in more recent times, “Adverts have been placed in some national dailies and a state-owned newspaper by companies owned by the applicant and his privies displaying and parading him as the Olofa of Offa on the occasion of his turning 50 years.
“To make the matters worse, Kwara State government represented by the Attorney-General of the State and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed have jointly cooperated actively with the applicant to bring the integrity of this court to its lowest ebb by flagrantly disobeying the judgment of this court and bringing this court to contempt and odium in the eye of the public and the society generally.”
He however expressed confidence that “installing Prince Abdulrauf Adegboyega Kejias the rightful Olofa of Offa as ordered by this court in her judgment, rather than causing tension, will improve the harmonious atmosphere within Offa and also improve the relationship between Offa and Erin-Ile.