JUST IN: Kingmakers crown Ghandi Laoye as the new Soun of Ogbomoso

Prince Afolabi Ghandi Laoye, a former pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, was installed as the new Soun of Ogbomosoland in Oyo State. The Soun of Ogbomoso stool became vacant after Oba Jimoh Oyewumi transited to the great beyond on December 12, 2021. However, some members of the family opposed the approval, arguing that he was not part of the process right from the beginning and shouldn't be crowned against their wish.

The family members instituted a suit in July 2022 against the nomination of Ghandi Olaoye by the kingmakers, citing various irregularities in the procedures that produced him. The judge, A.K. Adedokun, fixed the judgement day after Olaoye's counsel, Oladapo Atanda, and Kolawole Fatoye, who represented Ghandi and the kingmakers adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the suit.

The defendants in the case include the Oyo State Governor, Oyo State Attorney General, Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ogbomoso North Local Government, Ogbomoso North Traditional Council, and Prince Amos Olawole Olaoye (Mogaji Olaoye Ruling House). The 7th to 11th defendants are the kingmakers, while the 12th defendant is the Soun nominee.

The legal team of the 7th to 10th defendants, representing Ghandi, urged the court to dismiss the claim and grant the counterclaim, noting that the procedure produced him contravenes native law and custom for the selection of a candidate for selection of a new Soun.

On September 2, the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, approved the selection of Olaoye as the next Soun. However, the state High Court in Ogbomoso restrained the governor, Attorney General of the State, and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters from presenting any instrument of office or issuance of the certificate of installation to Olaoye until the final determination of the mandatory injunction already filed before the court.