Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is set to officially present the staff of office to the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, on Saturday, December 16.
Simultaneously, a state High Court in Ogbomoso granted a stay of execution regarding the October 25 judgment, which initially ordered the removal of the monarch.
The lawsuit, filed by Prince Kabir Olaoye, marked HOG/27/2022, alleged irregularities in the process leading to Oba Ghandi’s ascension as the Soun of Ogbomosoland.
In response, Justice Kareem Adedokun ruled in favor of the plaintiff, ousting Oba Ghandi from the position.
However, expressing discontent with the ruling, Oba Ghandi and the state government have lodged an appeal while concurrently filing an application for a stay of execution.
On Monday, the judge granted the application for stay and directed “all the parties to maintain the status quo ante pending the hearing and determination of the appeal already filed by the defence of Oba Olaoye and the state government.”
Recall that the Oyo state government declared Ghandi, a pastor affiliated with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, as the new Soun and officially crowned him king on September 8, 2023.
This appointment came two years after the passing of Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III in December 2021, who had reigned for an impressive 48 years until his demise at the age of 95.
