Court Bars Soun of Ogbomoso from Removing Chief Imam Amidst Legal Battle

An Oyo State High Court in Ogbomoso has issued a restraining order against the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, and the kingmakers preventing them from removing the Chief Imam, Sheik Teliat Yunus Ayilara, amidst an ongoing legal battle.

The legal dispute arose after the Registered Trustees of Ogbomoso Muslim Youths Forum, representing Muslims in the town, filed a lawsuit against the traditional ruler and the kingmakers, led by Chief Sobalaje Otolorin from the Soun-In-Council, over the planned removal of the Chief Imam.

The case, with the suit number HOG/31/2024, was brought before the Oyo State High Court Ogbomoso Division, naming Registered Trustees of Ogbomoso Muslim Youths Forum as the plaintiff and the Soun and the Soun-In-Council as the defendants.

Presided over by Justice K.B. Olawoyin, the court, on June 26th, 2024, ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, barring the Soun and the Soun-In-Council from taking any action to suspend or remove the Chief Imam.

According to the court order, the defendants are prohibited from interfering with the functions and duties of the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land, Alhaji Yunus Olusina Ayilara, pending the resolution of the legal dispute.