Odule kicks as court pronounces Ashaolu ANTP president

The Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday pronounced Victor Ashaolu as the authentic president of the Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners.
The association is said to have been without a leader for a long time.
Prolific actor, Prince Jide Kosoko, whose tenure ended few years ago as the president of ANTP, has been regarded as the stand-in president of the association following the leadership tussle between Ashaolu and Dele Odule.
The ruling on Thursday by Justice Bolaji Yusuf, stated that the defence of Odule was lacking in merit and therefore dismissed it.
However, our checks before now revealed that a suit has been filled against Ashaolu by Prince Odule at the Federal High Court in Ibadan, which ordered Ashaolu to stop parading himself as the president of the association till the determination of the case before Justice Bolaji of Court 4.
The ruling then, we gathered, led to jubilation galore in the camp of Odule.
Their joy stems from the fact that since September 2010, an election that was regarded as a kangaroo one was held in Ilorin, Kwara State by the Ashaolu faction of the association.
Ashaolu was the only contestant in that election and thus emerged the winner.
Further checks by The Eagle Online confirmed that in the seven states of the federation where the association has chapters, Ashaolu is still at loggerheads with the state governors as he has reportedly written petitions against them to the State Security Service and Police Force, alleging that they were threatening his life.
At a time,he took such governors to court for not supporting and recognizing his presidency.
Right now, reports reaching us indicate that fear has gripped Odule’s camp following Justice Bolaji Yusuf’s ruling reinstating the controversial Ashaolu as the authentic president of the association.
However, in a telephone chat with one of the state chapters governor loyal to Prince Odule, Taiwo Alimi, better known as Ajala Jalingo, he said Odule will appeal the ruling.