Appeal Court affirms Afolabi Olaoye as Soun of Ogbomoso

The court of appeal in Ibadan, Oyo state, has dismissed the high court judgement nullifying the selection and installation of Afolabi Oaoye as the Soun of Ogbomoso.

On Tuesday, the appellate court ruled that the lower court had no jurisdiction to entertain the case.

In October 2023, the high court in Ogbomoso, Oyo state, nullified Afolabi Olaoye’s selection and installation as the new Soun of Ogbomoso.

K.A. Adedokun, the presiding judge, ruled that his nomination did not comply with the legal provisions for selecting the Soun. The suit was filed by Kabir Olaoye, one of the contenders to the stool, and six others.

However, the three-member panel of the appeal court, led by Yargata Nimpar, ruled that the respondents failed to comply with the administrative procedure of writing to the government about their dissatisfaction with the selection before approaching the lower court.

The court ruled in favour of Afolabi Olaoye on all the 10 grounds of appeal.

The Soun of Ogbomoso, a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor, was crowned in September 2023.

However, some members of the royal family opposed his selection, prompting a legal tussle.