By Julius Oluseye
A High Court sitting in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, on Wednesday, nullified the selection and installation of Oba Afolabi Olaoye, as the new Soun of Ogbomoso.
The selection of Prince Afolabi Olaoye, a pastor and international businessman, as Soun of Ogbomoso was approved by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Sept. 2.
He was however installed by kingmakers on September 8.
The stool became vacant after the demise of Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III, in December 2021 at the age of 95 after he reigned for 48 years.
However, Prince Kabir Olaoye, one of the contenders for the Soun of Ogbomoso stool, had dragged Afolabi to court, saying he was not eligible for the position of Soun of Ogbomoso.
The Presiding judge, Justice K.A. Adedokun, while ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by Kabir, restrained the Governor, Attorney General and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in Oyo State either by themselves, agents or officials from presenting any instrument of office in any form of ceremony or issuance of certificate of installation to Afolabi pending the hearing and final determination of the mandatory injunction already filed before the court.
Kabir said the selection of Afolabi did not follow due process and the Ogbomoso cheiftaincy declaration.
He then prayed the court to nullify the selection and installation as well as order the kingmakers to commence a fresh selection process.
Justice Adedokun, in the judgement delivered on Wednesday, nullified the selection and installation of Afolabi as Soun of Ogbomoso and ordered the kingmakers to commence a fresh process to select a new traditional ruler for the town.
