Court stops Chief Imam Ogbomoso from turbaning Adeseun, one other, Soun reacts
Khalid ABRAHAM
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An High Court of Justice sitting in Ibadan has restrained the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso Alhaji Toliat Ayilara from turbaning Senator Hamzat Ayoade Adeseun and Shaykh Idris Ibrahim Alao as Islamic title holders.
Senator Adeseun who represented Oyo Central senatorial district between 2011 and 2015 was inaugurated last week by the Chief Imam as Asiwaju/Baba Isale Adini of Ogbomosoland while Ibrahim Alao was inaugurated as Safīrul ‘Ulama’ of Ogbomosoland.
Confirming this in a post Sheikh Ayilara wrote, “Today, after Juma’at, I inaugurated Senator Hamzat Ayoade Adeseun as Asiwaju/Baba Isale Adini of Ogbomosoland and Shaykh (Barrister) Idris Ibrahim Alao as Safīrul ‘Ulama’ of Ogbomosoland. May Almighty Allah make it easy for both of them as they take upon new responsibilities within the Ogbomoso Muslim Community. Ameen.”
The celebration is thus slated for Thursday May 1 at the Ogbomoso Recreation Club.
However, Justice K.A. Adedokun in a ruling Wednesday at Court No. 13, Ibadan, ordered that the status quo be maintained pending the determination of the suit, which was instituted by the Chief Imam against the Soun, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III. This effectively nullifies the appointment.
Ayilara and eight others had filed the suit, No. HOG/7/2024, against the Soun and nine others challenging the alleged plan to remove him aside other prayers sought.
Counsel to the 6th to 10th defendants, Kola Fatoye Esq had prayed the court to reiterate the order of the maintenance of status quo by all parties in the case pending the institution of the suit, a plea supported by the other counsels Musíbau Adetunbi SAN and Adekunle Sobaloju SAN. Adetunbi had said, “Nothing is too much to sacrifice for peace to reign.”
The judge who seriously complained about the planned turbaning in view of previous order aligned himself with the submission and consequently said, “Parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo until the final determination of this suit.”
In a more unambiguous term he said, “In other words, parties are restrained from making any appointment or turbaning of any person pending the hearing and final determination of this case.”
The suit was consequently adjourned till Wednesday May 7, 2025 “for case management conference,’ while trial will hold on May 28 and 29.
While reacting, the Soun in a telephone chat with ogbomosoinsightonline.com noted that what the honourable court ruled is what the Chief Imam is aware of.
“The outcome of the court is commendable but l am not disposed to making much comments because the matter is still pending in court,” Oba Olaoye said.
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“So, l will only say that the man himself (Chief Imam) knows he is not supposed to confer any title or turban any individual without the consent and approval of the Soun. It is clearly contained and well spelt out in his term of contract he signed at his installation. What separates him as the Chief Imam is that he is a chief of the Palace, an appointee of the Soun and so he is not unaware of what the court says.
“Secondly, for him or anyone to confer any title bearing the prefix Ogbomosoland is crossing the line. Only the Soun has such prerogative and if any of his appointees craves to use that term under whatever circumstances whether religious or traditional title, it has to be with the express permission of the Soun. Such cannot be contravened. Having made those two submissions l have no further comments since the case is subsisting in court.”
