Despite the high court ruling of May 22, 2015, which favored Oba Kabiru Shotobi, and subsequent peace settlement efforts and mediations to resolve the disputed Ayangbure throne, a principal party in the tussle, Prince Taju Odofin, has again failed with his supporters in their bid to unseat Oba Shotobi.
Believing strongly in the rule of law and determined to fight the case against the choice and coronation of Oba Shotobi to a logical conclusion, ex Finance Commissioner in Lagos State, Prince Taju Odofin, filed another case in high court after the failure of the first one, decided by Justice M. A. Savage.
On Monday, January 9, 2017, Justice O.A. Williams dismissed the second suit by Prince Odofin and two other Princes on the grounds that it lacked merit, the matter having been dealt before by a corresponding court. The judge immediately dismissed the suit. The manner the litigants came to court suggested that they were confident of victory. Their lawyer must have assured them of winning the case; hence, they came with a large number of supporters including Channels Television crew.
Ironically, the same Prince Odofin, who in the past said the Lambo family were not entitled to the throne and would not contest the case in court, drew his supporters this time around from some members of the Lambo family.
One of the anti Shotobi crusaders, who tore off a banner at Ayangbure palace in 2015 during the installation/coronation of Shotobi, was also in court on this day with others, hailing Prince Odofin as kabiyesi and shouting anti-shotobi slogans. Channels Television station kept announcing intermittently in its telecast, the case, which was expected to be decided that day.
But when the judge gave the verdict, the court went silent. Supporters of Prince Odofin seemed shocked as they left the court downcast. Neither Prince Odofin nor his supporters granted any press interview thereafter. On the side of the monarch, Oba Shotobi and his supporters modestly rejoice over the court victory, neither over-celebrating nor making any provocative statement.