FRESH TWIST: Court bars IGP from arresting Chief Imam of Ogbomoso
Khalid ABRAHAM
Far from being over, the lingering dispute in the case involving the Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland Sheikh Teliat Yunus Oluseun Ayilara and the Ayilara family over the authenticity of his origin has rather deepened and seems to have entered a new slippery terrain.
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In what looks like a preemptive action the Chief Imam has obtained a court injunction against the police from taking any action that could jeopardize his free movement and association.
ogbomosoinsightonline.com reports the Chief Imam turbaned in 2021 by the immediate past Soun of Ogbomosoland late Oba Oladuuni Oyewumi Ajagungbade lII has been embroiled in a bitter feud with sections of Ayilara Imam family whose turn it’s to produce the Imam over claim that he’s not a true member of the family and so are demanding his removal.
Efforts to resolve the issue in the past by various authorities and interests are to no avail triggering the recent intervention by the Oyo state Commissioner of Police (CP).
The parties were at the Eleyele headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force Oyo state last week where they were interrogated with either side making its claim.
They were scheduled to return Tuesday February 6 but perhaps sensing an impending arrest by the police Shiekh Ayilara instructed his lawyers to file an ex parte motion Monday seeking an order restraining neither the Inspector General of Police nor the Oyo state CP from removing or arresting him.
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The suit marked HOG/4/2024 filed at an Oyo state High Court Ogbomoso Judicial Division with the IGP and CP Oyo state as defendants seeks “An order of Interim Injunction restraining the Defendants/Respondents whether by themselves, officers under their control, or any officers or persons acting on the instructions of the Defendants/Respondents from suspending, removing the Claimant/Applicant as Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso- land or, in any manner whatsoever, tampering with the office of Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland being occupied by the Claimant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
In his ruling the presiding judge Justice K.B. Olawoyin granted the reliefs sought.
“Upon reading the Claimant/Applicant’s Motion Exparte and Affidavit duly sworn by Alhaji Taliat Tunus Olusina Ayilara, Male, Muslim, Imam of Ayilara Compound, Oke Agbede, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, filed at High Court Registry, Oke-Ado, Ogbomoso on 5/2/2024 praying this Honourable Court for the grant of the reliefs stated therein to the Claimant.
“After hearing R. O. Muraina Esq, Counsel to the Claimant/Applicant who moved the Motion Exparte, the Court ordered as follows:-
“An order of Interim Injunction is hereby granted in favour of the Claimant and against the Defendants/Respondents whether by themselves, officers under their control or any officers or persons acting on the instructions of the Defendants/Respondents from suspending, removing the Claimant/Applicant as the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland being occupied by the Claimant pending the hearing and determina- tion of the Motion on Notice dated and filed 5/2/2024 in this Suit.
“As a consequence of the foregoing order made in 1 above, I hereby grant an Order of Interim Injunction restraining the Defendants/ Respon- whether by themselves, officers under their control or any officers or persons acting on the Instructions of the Defendants from arresting or detaining the Claimant/Applicant or interfering on any way with his freedom of movement under the guise of investigating any matter or com- paint relating to the office of the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland or under any guise whatsoever pending the hearing and determ- ination of the Motion on Notice dated and filed 5/2/2024.”
The case was adjourned till February 12, 2024 for hearing.
Hmmmmm.