An Oyo State High Court in Ogbomoso has issued a ruling preventing the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, and the town’s kingmakers, led by Chief Sobalaje Otolorin, from removing Sheik Teliat Yunus Ayilara, the Chief Imam of the town.
The conflict between the Soun and the Chief Imam has been ongoing for several months.
The situation escalated when the Registered Trustees of Ogbomoso Muslim Youths Forum, representing the local Muslim community, filed a lawsuit against the traditional ruler and the kingmakers, who are part of the Soun-In-Council, in an effort to stop the planned removal of the cleric.
The case, filed under suit number HOG/31/2024 at the Oyo State High Court Ogbomoso Division, listed the Registered Trustees of Ogbomoso Muslim Youths Forum as the plaintiff, with the Soun and the Soun-In-Council as defendants.
On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, Justice K.B. Olawoyin presided over the court and prohibited the traditional ruler and the Soun-In-Council from removing the Chief Imam.
The court order stated, “The defendants/respondents whether by themselves, their agents, privies, officers under their control, or any persons acting on the instruction of the defendants/respondents from suspending or removing the holder of office of Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land (in person of Alhaji Yunus Olusina Ayilara) or in any way disturbing or tampering with the office of Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
The court further restrained “The defendants/respondents and their agents, servants and/or privies and/or any persons acting under their control or on their instructions… from doing anything under any guise whatsoever to interfere with or impede the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land from carrying out the functions and duties of his office as Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land pending the hearing and determination of the Motion On Notice filed herein.”
Justice Olawoyin noted, “I have taken judicial notice of the full names of the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land as Alhaji Taliat Yunus Olusina Ayilara and that of the 1 defendant/respondent as His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye (Orumogege III), the Soun of Ogbomoso land.”
The hearing for the Motion on Notice, which was dated and filed on June 26, 2024, has been adjourned to July 1, 2024.
