Court Restrains Soun from Removing Chief Imam

June 29, 2024

An Oyo State High Court in Ogbomoso has restrained the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, and kingmakers of the town from removing the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Sheikh Teliat Yunus Ayilara.

The monarch and the kingmakers, led by Chief Sobalaje Otolorin, were stopped from removing the cleric, following a suit filed in the court.

The suit, marked HOG/31/2024, was filed by Registered Trustees of Ogbomoso Muslim Youths Forum against the Soun and the Soun-In-Council.

The Muslim youths alleged that the traditional ruler and the kingmakers, who are members of the Soun-in-Council were making some clandestine moves to remove the cleric.

The suit further restrained, “defendants/respondents whether by themselves, their agents, privies, officers under their control, or any persons acting on the instruction of the defendants/respondents from suspending or removing the holder of office of Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland (in person of Alhaji Yunus Olusina Ayilara) or in anyway disturbing or tampering with the office of Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice”.

It added: “defendants/respondents and their agents, servants and/or privies and/or any persons acting under their control or on their instructions, are also restrained in the interim from doing anything under any guise whatsoever to interfere with or impede the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland from carrying out the functions and duties of his office as Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland and pending the hearing and determination of the Motion On Notice filed herein.

“I put on record that I have taken judicial notice of the full names of the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland as Alhaji Taliat Yunus Olusina Ayilara and that of the 1 defendant/respondent as His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye (Orumogege III), the Soun of Ogbomosoland.”