The Federal High Court in Ibadan has issued an order preventing the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, from dissolving the executive council of Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo Agbaaye or installing a caretaker committee.
Earlier in September, the monarch announced the dissolution of the association’s leadership and named Prof. Josiah Ajiboye as acting president to head a caretaker committee until fresh elections are conducted. However, the association’s appointed acting president, Alhaji Yusuf Adetayo, alongside two members—Mr. Tolani Balogun and Alhaji Bukola Badmus—challenged the decision in court. They sued Oba Ghandi, Ajiboye, and the association’s registered trustees, seeking to halt the move.
The applicants argued that the Soun lacks constitutional authority to remove the executive or impose new leadership on the association, which they noted is an independent, CAC-registered body governed by its own constitution.
They requested an order restraining Ajiboye and the caretaker committee from taking over the secretariat or attempting to displace the acting executive until the court hears the substantive motion. They further sought to stop the committee from initiating any election process or making appointments that could undermine the existing leadership.
Ruling on the ex-parte application on Monday, Justice N. E. Maha ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante pending the determination of the motion on notice filed on November 11, 2025. The court also directed the applicants to serve a certified true copy of the order, the motion for interlocutory injunctions, the originating summons and other relevant documents on the respondents within 48 hours.
The matter has been adjourned to December 1, 2025, for hearing of the motion for interlocutory reliefs.
Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo Agbaaye, a global association of Ogbomoso indigenes, lists the Soun of Ogbomoso as its life grand patron. Other traditional rulers in the region, including the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, the Onikoyi of Ikoyi, the Aresadu of Iresaadu and the Alajaawa of Ajaawa, also serve as life patrons.
