Court sacks Ghandi Olaoye’s selection process, emergence as Soun of Ogbomoso illegal – Court

By Abiodun OBA

The recently installed Soun of Ogbomoso Ghandi Olaoye, has been sacked.

An Oyo State High Court sitting on Wednesday delivered the judgement while ruling in a suit filed by one Prince Kabir Laoye alleging foul play in the process that led to the emergence of Ghandi as the new Soun of Ogbomoso.

Kabir had consequently asked the court to nullify the process and order the commencement of a new process for the selection of the new Soun.

The court had consequently directed that the Oyo State government should not announce anybody as the new Soun of Ogbomoso until the disposal of the suit.

The court sitting in Ogbomoso, had reserved judgment till today, October 25.

However, in disobedience to the court order, Oyo State Government on September 8, 2023, announced Ghandi Laoye as the new Soun. He was subsequently installed as the new Soun of Ogbomoso.

However, while delivering judgment on the suit on Wednesday, Justice Adedokun said the selection process and emergence of Laoye was illegal.

The Judge ordered Ogbomosho kingmakers to go back and start the fresh selection of the new king.

The Chairman of the Screening Committee for the Laoye ruling house, in Ogbomoso, Abdulwahab Laoye had also denied the claim that the family chose Ghandi a pastor with the RCCG to fill the stool which became vacant after the demise of Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, in December 2021, at the age of 95 years.