Soun: Court reserves judgement in suit challenging selection process till Oct 25

An Oyo High Court sitting in the Oke-Ado area of Ogbomoso has reserved judgment in the suit instituted by Prince Kabir Olaoye challenging the selection of Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye as the new Soun of Ogbomoso till 25 October.

Prince Kabir Olaoye, in the suit marked HOG/27/2022, challenged the nomination of Prince Ghandi Olaoye on various grounds, such as irregularities in the procedures that produced him and consequently praying the court to, among other reliefs, set aside the nomination and to order a fresh process.

Justice AK Adedokun also dismissed the three reliefs sought by one of the litigants, Prince Adeyemi Taofiq Akorede Olaoye, challenging the nomination of the new Soun of Ogbomoso by the kingmakers on Tuesday.

The Governor of Oyo State; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State; Hon. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Oyo State; Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Oyo State; Ogbomoso North Local Government; Chief S Otolorin (JP) (Areago of Ogbomosoland); Chief Salawu Ajadi (Jagun of Ogbomosoland); Chief Tijani Abioye (Bara of Ogbomosoland); Chief David Adeniran Ojo (Ikolaba of Ogbomosoland) and Chief Yusuff Kasali Oladipupo (Abese Of Ogbomosoland) were first to 11th defendants respectively.

The claimant further argued that his father, Pa Alhaji Abdulfatai Olalekan Olaoye, being “the present Aremo and head of family of Olaoye Ruling House of Ogbomosoland,” ought to be the automatic candidate to fill the vacant stool or be given the privilege to nominate a person as a proxy to fill the vacant chieftaincy stool in his stead.

Adedokun, while delivering his judgement, noted the kingmakers formed a quorum saying in accordance with the 1953 Soun declaration law, at least four members of the kingmakers must be present at the deliberations and nomination of Soun.

He posited there was no need to appoint a warrant chief in place of the late Balogun who died before the kingmakers considered the nomination.

The judge also asserted that the process through which the selection of Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye was premised is “valid, proper and legal,” just as he dismissed the prayer of eligibility on the ground that the claimant’s father is the only eligible candidate.