Ogbomoso prince heads to Supreme Court over Soun stool dispute

Prince Kabir Olaoye of Ogbomoso has taken his legal battle to the Supreme Court, challenging the Court of Appeal’s judgment that affirmed Oba Ghandi Olaoye as the Soun of Ogbomoso.

Prince Kabir had initially filed a suit in 2022 (HOG/27/2022) contesting the nomination and selection of Oba Olaoye, citing breaches in the Soun Chieftaincy Declaration. Despite the ongoing legal dispute, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde approved Olaoye’s selection, leading to his installation by the kingmakers in September 2023.

However, in October 2023, an Oyo State High Court in Ogbomoso nullified Oba Olaoye’s appointment, but the Oyo State government swiftly obtained an injunction to prevent the enforcement of the ruling. This allowed the monarch’s coronation to proceed in December 2023.

The state government later appealed the Ogbomoso High Court’s decision, and on Tuesday, the Court of Appeal in Ibadan overturned the lower court’s ruling, affirming Oba Olaoye’s legitimacy as Soun of Ogbomoso.

Reacting to the judgment, Prince Kabir expressed his dissatisfaction and vowed to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.

“I am not satisfied with the judgment of the appeal court. We are not relenting until we reclaim our mandate through the Supreme Court. We are not giving up,” he said in an interview on Sunday.

The case now moves to Nigeria’s highest court as the legal battle over the Soun of Ogbomoso stool continues.