The court sitting in Ogbomoso ordered a stay of execution of its earlier judgement on the Soun of Ogbomosoland kingship tussle.
One of the contestants to the throne of Soun of Ogbomoso, Prince Kabir Olaoye, has asked the Oyo State High Court to furnish the Appellate Court the recent certified judgment by Justice Kareem Adedokun over the kingship tussle between him and Oba Afolabi Olaoye.
The court sitting in Ogbomoso ordered a stay of execution of its earlier judgement on the Soun of Ogbomosoland kingship tussle.
In its ruling on October 25, 2023, the Court faulted the process that led to the emergence of Prince Ghandi Olaoye as Soun of Ogbomosoland and thereby ordered a fresh selection process.
The defendants in the suit, including the Governor of Oyo State, Oba Laoye and others, headed for the Court of Appeal, sitting in Ibadan to challenge the lower court’s ruling.
Governor Makinde had, on September 2, approved the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor’s appointment to assume the vacant stool since the demise of Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi Agunbiade III, who died in December 2021 at 95 after a 48-year reign.
The kingmakers of the ancient town, thereafter, on September 8, 2023, inaugurated Olaoye as the new Soun despite a court order restraining his instalment to the throne following a suit filed by Kabir Olaoye.
Olaoye, according to the suit, argued that the monarch, a former pastor of the RCCG, was not eligible to ascend the throne, adding that the selection process was flawed.
The state, through its lawyer, Akin Onigbinde (SAN), also sought a stay of execution of the October 25 judgment pending the outcome of the appeal.
The appellants are Governor Makinde, the Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, and the state’s Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Matters.
The notice of appeal dated October 27 is seeking “an order setting aside the judgment of the trial court of October 25, or an order of re-trial before another judge of the Oyo State High Court.”
In the six grounds of appeal, the state government said the trial judge erred in law, maintaining that the judgment could not stand.
“This is an Appeal against the decision of the High Court of Justice, Ibadan, as contained ni the Judgment of Hsi Lordship K. A. Adedokun on the 25" day of October, 2023,” Olaoye said.
“The Respondent is absent and not represented. The Appellant counsel is present and requested that all proceedings up till Judgment be typed and same be forwarded to the Court of Appeal, Ibadan.”