An Ilorin High Court, on Friday, dismissed a suit challenging the installation of Oba Muftau Gbadamosi as the Olofa of Offa, in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara.
Justice Suleiman Akanbi, while delivering judgement on the matter, said that the plaintiff had failed to convince the court of the merit of his case.
He said that chieftaincy matters were governed by the customs and traditions of the people which must be respected.
The judge also said the plaintiff had failed to establish how his rights were infringed by the selection of the defendant.

The suit, filed by Alhaji Rauf Keji of the Olugebense Ruling House, asked the court to void the monarch’s ascension on the ground that it was illegal. Keji had contended that the state government and the king makers of the town erred in law by setting aside the monarchical rotation principle to favour the incumbent.

He urged the court to remove the incumbent and install him in his place, contending that the two ruling houses of Olugbense and Anilelerin were recognised as contenders to the stool on rotational basis by the Sawyer Commission of Enquiry set up by the then military government of the state in 1969.

However, the judge ruled that the Sawyer commission report was silent on the policy of rotation and that it only recognised the two ruling houses.
"Selection and declaration by kingmakers is done by calling a meeting of all Magajis, who will in turn forward names of eligible candidates, among whom the most successful will be picked," the judge said.

"Having considered the extant law, there is no where it stated or established rotation principle. The claimants have not proved their case with credible evidence, both orally and documentary, and the issue is resolved in favour of the defendant."