News

Ogbomoso: Controversies, Litigation Halt Appointment Of New Soun

Published

3 years ago

September 29, 2022

There are indications that Ogbomoso, the second largest city in Oyo State, South West Nigeria may not have a new king soon.

This is owing to fresh controversies trailing the appointment of a new monarch.

Ogbomoso, a city situated at the northern part of the present Oyo State was founded by Oba Olabanjo Ogundiran Ogunlola, a warrior who conquered Elemosho, an invader and a terror who troubled some parts of the old Oyo empire for many years.

Based on available historical facts and evidence, Soun Ogunlola was the first Soun of Ogbomoso.

Ogunlola reigned between 1659 and 1714.

He was succeeded by Oba Erinsaba Alamu Jogioro 1741–1770.

Other monarchs who reigned in Ogbomoso based on the available historical facts are Oba Ikumoyeje Ajo 1770–1797, Oba Toyeje Akanni (Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland) 1797–1825, Oba Oluwusi Aremu 1826–1840, Oba Jaiyeola Are Arolofin Alao 1840–1842, Oba Idowu Bolanta Adigun 1842–1845, Oba Ogunlabi Odunlaro 1845–1860, Oba Ojo Aburumaku Adio (Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland) 1860–1869, Oba Gbagungboye Ajamasa Ajagungbade 1 1869–1871 and Oba Laoye Atanda Orumogege 1871–1901.

The rest are Oba Majengbasan Elepo 1 1901–1907, Oba Adegoke Atanda Layode 1 1908–1914, Oba Itabiyi Olanrewaju Ande 1914–1916, Oba Bello Afolabi Oyewumi Ajagungbade 11 1916–2/18/1940, Oba Lawani Oke ‘Lanipekun 1944–3/19/1952, Oba Olatunji Alao Elepo 11 1952–1966, Oba Olajide Olayode 11 1966–7/1/1969, Oba Salami Ajiboye Itabiyi 6/4/1972–6/2/1973 and Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade 111 1973-2021.

The traditional council in Ogbomoso also known as (The Ilus- Awon Ilu) is made up of 7 chiefs, among whom are six males and a female. They are headed by the Areago. The traditional council consists of Areago, Jagun, Bara, Ikolaba, Abese, Balogun and Iyalode.

Other chieftaincy titles in Ogbomoso are the Baale of Ijeru, Baale of Isapa, Baale of Masifa, Baale of Pakiotan, Baale of Okelerin, Baale of Osupa and Aare Alasa.

According to DAILY POST, the town has no king at the moment.

The throne of the king of the city christened Soun of Ogbomoso became vacant as a result of the transition of the Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade 111 who joined his ancestors on Sunday, 12th December, 2021.

The monarch, who reigned for 48 years, joined his ancestors at the age of 95.

Born on May 27th, 1926, in Ogbomoso, he ascended the throne of his forefathers on October 24, 1973.

Even though the kingmakers said that they had concluded their work on the appointment of new Soun, the town had remained without a king.

It was gathered that the kingmakers have screened the princes who indicated interest to ascend the throne and have since picked a nominee to ascend the throne.

Twenty five indigenes from various families indicated interest in the throne.

The name of the Soun nominee, Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, was submitted to the Oyo State government in March this year.

The kingmakers concluded their work on March 22, and dispatched the name of the nominee to Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, through Ogbomoso North Local Government.

But the selection and appointment of the new monarch has suffered another setback.

This was sequel to a court action by one of the contenders to the throne, Prince Kabir Muhammed Olaoye.

Olaoye challenged the process of appointment of the new monarch in suit number HOG/27/2022.

The case was instituted at an Oyo State High Court, Ogbomoso division.

The plaintiff is challenging the processes for the emergence of Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye.

He sought an injunction against the approval of Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye by the Oyo State government and a repeat of the selection process.

The 1st to 6th defendants in the case are the Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde; Oyo State Attorney General; Oyo State commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters; Ogbomoso North Local Government; Ogbomoso North Traditional Council and the Mogaji of Olaoye family, Prince Amos Olawole Olaoye.

The 7th, 6th, 9th, 10th and 11th defendants are members of the kingmakers, among whom are Chief S. O. Otolorin (Areago of Ogbomosoland/chairman, kingmakers of Soun Chieftaincy Ogbomoso); Chief Salawu Ajadi (Jagun); Chief Tijani Abioye (Baara); Chief David Adeniran Ojo (Ikolaba); Chief Yusuf Kasali Oladipupo (Abese) while Prince Afolabi Ghandi Oladunni Olaoye (Soun nominee) is the 12th defendant.

After hearing the pleas of the counsels, the judge, Hon Justice Kareem Adedokun, granted an oral application by the counsel to Prince Kabir Olaoye, Barrister Dapo Atanda, that “parties should maintain status quo without waiting for the order of the court.”

Atanda in his oral application argued that the 12 defendants refused to file a memorandum of appearance and their statement of defence as required by law which is 30 days, noting that it was over three months ago they had been served the process.

“In those three months, they were sleeping and snoring on the matter, refusing to join issue with us,” said, praying the court for injunction against the approval of the nominee by the State government.

He then requested for an undertaking by the counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, Mrs. Funmi Adebayo, to stay action in the process, which was, however, declined.

Adebayo, on the contrary, prayed for an accelerated hearing on the matter.

Counsel to 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 12th defendants, Kola Fatoye, whom Peter Idowu held brief for, did not oppose the oral application.

Justice Adedokun, though refused the order of injunction, granted the application for status quo.

“The applications of the learned counsel to the claimant are hereby granted as prayed.”

Adedokun added that “All the parties in this suit are to maintain the status quo (i.e. the position they were in as of the date this suit was instituted).

“Also accelerated hearing of this matter is hereby ordered.”

The case has been adjourned till November 10, 2022, after the judge might have returned from leave.

DAILY POST reports that going by these developments, Ogbomoso may not have a new king soon.
DAILY POST

News

Delta-billionaire Lawuru To Grace Ijaw Media Conference As Guest Of Honour

Published

5 hours ago

November 27, 2025

Editor

The President of Egbema Brotherhood, Alaowei Promise Lawuru, is expected to grace the forthcoming Ijaw Media Conference 2025, as a guest of honour.

The event is scheduled to hold on December 3rd, 2025, in Warri, Delta State.

The annual media conference organised by the Ijaw Publishers Forum with the theme ‘Safeguarding Niger Delta’s Natural Resources for Future Generations,’ is second edition of the series.

Lawuru, youthful politician and businessman’s willingness to appear as guest of honour was made known
when a delegation of the Central Working Committee led by Pastor Arex Akemotubo paid him a visit to inform him of the forthcoming event and his expected role.

In his presentation, Akemotubo explained that this year’s theme was chosen out of concern for the growing strain on the region’s land and waters.

The Publisher of WaffiTV stressed that the forum wants to strengthen public understanding, support honest reportage, and encourage leaders to protect what the Niger Delta holds for the next generation.

He addex that Lawuru’s history of service and steady involvement in community work made him a natural choice for the role.

Chief Lawuru welcomed the invitation and spoke warmly about the need for shared responsibility among stakeholders and groups such as the IPF.

He commended the forum for using the media to defend the region’s interests and promised full support for the conference.

Lawuru further urged other stakeholders across the Ijaw nation to lend their weight to efforts that safeguard the environment.

News

Senate Recommends Death Penalty For Kidnappers

Published

6 hours ago

November 26, 2025

Editor

The Senate has passed a resolution classifying kidnapping as an act of terrorism, stipulating that an amendment to the Terrorism Act be made to impose the maximum penalty of death.

The resolution was made during plenary on Wednesday.

Under the new law, according to the upper legislative arm, once a kidnapping conviction is established, the death penalty must be applied.

Nigeria suffers from a persistent security crisis fuelled by attacks and violence by “bandit” gangs that raid villages, kill people, and kidnap for ransom.

In response to recent kidnappings and attacks by terrorists, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday ordered a total security cordon over the forests in Kwara State.

Series Of Abductions

Bandits had struck the Isapa community of the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting 11 residents.

The attack came about two weeks after and 38 worshippers were abducted from a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in the Eruku community of the state.

Terrorists also attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Niger State, abducting more that 300 school children and staff in a resurgence of the mass kidnappings that have long harrowed Africa’s most populous country.

In the same week, 24 schoolgirls were taken from the Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, Danko Wasagu Local Government Area in Kebbi State, but regained freedom on Tuesday.

At least 50 taken from St Mary’s Catholic school also managed to escape, but more than 265 children and teachers are still being held.

Nigeria’s high-profile mass kidnapping was that of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014, when Boko Haram forced 276 girls from their dormitories in the North-East region.

More than a decade later, man of the Chibok girls are still missing.

News

FG Threatens To Seize Dana Air Assets

Published

7 hours ago

November 26, 2025

Editor

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed that the Federal Government may recover and sell the assets of Dana Air to refund passengers and travel agents whose funds remain trapped following the suspension of the airline’s operations.

The Minister disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday at the Ministry’s fourth quarter stakeholders’ engagement to enhance governance for effective service delivery in aviation with the theme: “leveraging public feedback to drive excellence in aviation services”.

According to him, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will be directed to probe why funds trapped by the airline are yet to be refunded.

He revealed that the Authority suspended the operations of the airline as a matter of choice between safety and disaster.

“For Dana, the problem is that it was a choice between safety and disaster. So we didn’t take the commercial thing as priority. The priority was safety, and we all looked at the damning reports that we had met on the table.

“It was a decision of the NCAA to suspend them, but I pushed them to say, look, these are the reports we are seeing on the table about safety record, about lack of standards that put the lives of Nigerians at risk. If they continue flying, I don’t know whether most of us will be here. Many of us would have been victims of one of those flights. God forbid.”

According to him, “I have asked Najomo to dig deep to find out how those passengers and agents will be refunded. He has to dig deep on that.

“One solution will also be that if that same individual or those entities are trying to come back to aviation under any guise, whether to go and register a new AOC or use any business within the aviation sector, they have to go and settle their debts first.

“We should look at their assets. There are assets that are still available. Let them sell their assets. Let’s cannibalize their revenue and pay people. Let’s find a way to go after their assets and get money to pay Nigerians who are owed.

“NCAA should do that because they can’t get away with it.”