The Oyo State High Court in Ogbomoso has issued an order prohibiting Governor Seyi Makinde from officially presenting any instrument of office or certificate of office to Prince Afolabi Olaoye, who was announced as the Soun-elect on Saturday. This ruling comes following the vacancy created by the passing of Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, the former Soun of Ogbomoso.
Governor Makinde had initially approved the selection of Prince Afolabi Olaoye as the Soun-elect. However, the court has intervened, restraining the governor, the State’s Attorney General, and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, or any of their representatives, from conducting any formal installation ceremony or issuing a certificate of installation to Olaoye until a final decision has been reached in a pending mandatory injunction case.
Justice K.A. Adedokun, presiding over the court, delivered the order on Thursday, based on a motion ex-parte filed by Prince Kabir Olaoye, one of the contenders for the Soun of Ogbomoso title. Furthermore, Justice Adedokun directed Prince Afolabi Olaoye not to assume or represent himself as the official candidate for any installation ceremony or wear any regalia resembling that of the Soun of Ogbomoso Chieftaincy, pending the conclusion of the ongoing legal proceedings.
The court also instructed the appellant to serve the motion on notice for a mandatory injunction to all 12 respondents involved in the case. In delivering the order, Justice Adedokun emphasized that the court’s intervention was necessary to prevent any hasty actions by the government and other parties involved in the matter. The case has been adjourned to September 12, 2023, for further proceedings.
