The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ogbomoso has sacked the new Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye and ordered the state Government to conduct a fresh selection process for the next Soun.
One of the contestants, Kabir Laoye, had contested the emergence of Olaoye as the Soun in court, contending that he was ineligible to be appointed as Soun.
The court agreed with Laoye’s argument and consequently nullified Olaoye’s appointment.
Following the contention, the court had ordered the government not to appoint a new Soun, pending the determination of the matter before it.
However, the state government on September 8, 2023, went ahead to announce Olaoye as the new Soun and installed on the same day.
The stool became vacant, following the death of Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, in December 2021, at the age of 95 years after he reigned for 48 years.
The selection of Olaoye, a pastor with The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, became contentious when the Chairman of the Screening Committee for the Laoye ruling house, Abdulwahab Laoye, said the family had not selected anybody to fill the vacant stool, and dismissed as mere rumour social media gossip report of Olaoye’s selection.
