The Oyo State High Court in Ogbomoso has scheduled October 3rd as the date for delivering a verdict in a legal action initiated by Prince Mohammed Kabir Olaoye. This lawsuit challenges the legitimacy of Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye’s nomination as the Soun of Ogbomoso, following the vacant position left by the passing of Oba Jimoh Oyewumi on December 12, 2021.
The decision to set the judgment date was made by Justice A.K. Adedokun on Tuesday. The proceedings occurred subsequent to presentations by both sides in the case, with Oladapo Atanda representing Olaoye and Kolawole Fatoye representing Ghandi and the kingmakers. The lawsuit, identified as HOG/27/2022 and filed in July 2022, seeks various reliefs, including the annulment of the nomination and a call for a fresh selection process.
Among the defendants in this case are the Oyo State governor, the State’s Attorney General, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ogbomoso North Local Government, Ogbomoso North Traditional Council, and Prince Amos Olawole Olaoye from the Mogaji Olaoye ruling house, who are the first to sixth defendants, respectively. The seventh to eleventh defendants are the kingmakers, led by Chief S.O. Otolorin (Areago of Ogbomoso and chairman), Chief Salawu Ajadi (Jagun), Chief Tijani Abioye (Bara), Chief David Adeniran Ojo (Ikolaba), and Chief Yusuf Kasali Oladipupo (Abese), while Prince Ghandi Olaoye, the Soun nominee, is the twelfth defendant.