Court sacks Soun of Ogbomoso, Ghandi Olaoye

The Oyo State High Court in Ogbomoso, on Wednesday, invalidated the appointment of Oba Ghandi Olaoye as the new Soun of Ogbomosoland. Judge Adedokun, presiding over the case, ruled that Oba Laoye’s appointment was unlawful and directed the authorities to initiate the proper procedure for selecting a new Soun.

Earlier, Judge Adedokun had dismissed three petitions filed by one of the challengers, Prince Adeyemi Taofiq Akorede Laoye, which contested the appointment of the new Soun.

The Oyo State Government had officially declared Pastor Ghandi Olaoye as the new Soun and bestowed upon him the kingship on September 8, 2023. Notably, one of the contestants, Kabir Laoye, who had been sued for accepting the Soun’s position, had previously contested the eligibility of Ghandi Olaoye for the role.

At the time, the court had ruled that the Oyo State government should refrain from appointing anyone to the position until a judgment was issued. However, the government later announced Pastor Ghandi Laoye as the new Soun of Ogbomoso.

Prince Olaoye, who had filed a lawsuit challenging Ghandi’s appointment, contended that there was a procedural flaw in the selection process. He is urging the Supreme Court not to recognize the appointment of the new king and has instructed the kingmakers to initiate the process of selecting another Soun.