The Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State, has overturned the judgment of a high court that nullified the selection and installation of Afolabi Olaoye as the Soun of Ogbomoso.
Delivering its ruling on Tuesday, February 18, the appellate court held that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.
In October 2023, a high court in Ogbomoso declared the selection and installation of Afolabi as invalid. Presiding Judge K.A. Adedokun ruled that his nomination did not comply with the legal provisions for selecting the Soun of Ogbomoso. The case was brought by Kabir Olaoye, one of the contenders for the stool, along with six others.
Afolabi, a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), was installed as the new Soun of Ogbomoso in September 2023 by the kingmakers, led by Sobalaje Otolorin, at the palace. His appointment had been approved by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, but some members of the royal family opposed his selection.
A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Yargata Nimpar, ruled that the respondents had failed to follow the administrative procedure of formally notifying the government of their dissatisfaction with the selection before filing a case in the lower court.
The appellate court ruled in favour of Afolabi on all ten grounds of appeal, upholding his selection and installation as the Soun of Ogbomoso.