Court bars Oba Ghandi from dissolving executive of Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo
By Adejayan Gbenga –
A federal high court in Ibadan on Thursday restrained the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, from removing the current executive of the Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo Agbaaye and installing a caretaker committee.
The monarch had earlier in September announced the dissolution of the association’s executive and appointed Prof. Josiah Ajiboye as acting president to lead a caretaker committee until elections could be conducted.
However, the acting president appointed by the association, Alhaji Yusuf Adetayo, alongside Mr. Tolani Balogun and Alhaji Bukola Badmus, petitioned the court seeking to block Oba Olaoye, Ajiboye, and the association’s registered trustees from enforcing the change.
The plaintiffs argued that the Soun lacks the authority to sack the executive or impose leadership, as the association operates independently under its own constitution and is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
They requested an order preventing the caretaker committee from displacing the legally appointed acting executive or taking steps toward conducting elections until the matter is resolved.
Delivering a ruling on an ex parte motion filed by the applicants, Justice N. E. Maha ordered both parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the pending motion on notice filed on 11 November 2025.
The court further instructed the applicants to serve certified copies of the order, motion papers, and other relevant documents on the respondents within 48 hours. The hearing of the motion seeking interlocutory orders was adjourned to 1 December 2025.
Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo, which unites all Ogbomoso indigenes worldwide, lists the Soun of Ogbomoso as life grand patron, alongside other traditional rulers including the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Onikoyi of Ikoyi, Aresadu of Iresaadu, and Alajaawa of Ajaawa as life patrons.
