Newly installed Soun of Ogbomoso, Ghandi Laoye, faces legal hurdles

The ex-Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor, Ghandi Laoye, is already facing legal hurdles after his installation on Friday as Soun of Ogbomoso in Oyo State.

Ghandi Laoye was installed as the Soun of Ogbomoso land two years after the demise of Oba Jimoh Oyewumi on December 12, 2021.

The new Soun has already started seven days of initiation right which includes being in seclusion before receiving his staff of office.

But a member of the family opposed to Laoye’s nomination by the kingmakers, Muhammed Laoye, has headed to court, arguing that the process that produced him was inconclusive. They added that a minority committee performed the task instead of the whole family members, according to The PUNCH report.

The family member in the suit marked HOG/27/2022 in July 2022 prayed the court to, among other reliefs, set aside the nomination and order a fresh process, noting that the procedure that produced him contravened the native law and custom for the selection of a new Soun.

The defendants in the case included the Oyo State Governor, state attorney general, commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters, Ogbomoso North Local Government Area, Ogbomoso North Traditional Council and Prince Amos Olawole Laoye (Mogaji Laoye Ruling House) who were the first to sixth defendants.

The seventh to 11th defendants were the kingmakers: Chief S O Otolorin, Areago of Ogbomoso and Chairman; Chief Salawu Ajadi, Jagun; Chief Tijani Abioye, Bara; Chief David Adeniran Ojo, Ikolaba; and Chief Yusuf Oladipupo, Abese; while the new Soun was the 12th defendant.

The counsel for the seventh to 10th defendants, who also represented Laoye, however, urged the court to “dismiss the claim and grant the counter-claim”, noting that “the 12th defendant was duly nominated by the Laoye ruling house and selected by the kingmakers.”

The judge, A. K. Adedokun, therefore fixed October 3 for judgment.

Governor Seyi Makinde had on September 2 in a statement by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olusegun Olayiwola, approved the selection of Laoye as the next Soun.

But on Thursday, a state High Court in Ogbomoso restrained the governor, the Attorney General of the State and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters either by themselves, agents or officials from presenting any instrument of office in any form of ceremony or issuance of certificate of installation to Laoye until the final determination of the mandatory injunction already filed before the court.

Meanwhile, the new monarch was at the palace on Friday for an official installation, which was performed at Abata by the kingmakers, led by the Areago, High Chief Sobalaje Otolorin.

The kingmakers however said they did not receive any court injunction restraining them from installing Laoye as the new Soun of Ogbomoso.

The new monarch was proclaimed His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Laoye, Orumogege III. He has commenced the traditional rites.