Chief Imam Drags Prominent Traditional Ruler to Court Over Alleged Plan to Sack Him

The Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Talia Ayilara has dragged the Soun of Ogbomoso land, Oba Afolabi Olaoye and the Soun In- Council to court over alleged plans to remove him from the office.

According to a report by Daily Post, the suit marked HOG/7/2024 is to be decided at the Oyo State High Court, Ogbomoso Division.

The Chief Imam was installed in November 2021 during the reign of the immediate past Soun of Ogbomoso land, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi while the new Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye was installed by the kingmakers led by the Are Ago of Ogbomoso, High Chief Sobalaje Otolorin in September 2023.

The Imam had claimed that the defendants threatened to remove him as the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso.

Ayilara, who is the 13th Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land in the affidavit in support of the motion on notice sworn to at the High Court Registry, Ogbomoso, on February 12, said he was appointed by the Surah committee of the Muslim Community in Ogbomoso land.

Ayilara insisted that the defendants were appointed to rule under the laws and customs of Ogbomoso to the traditional titles they hold and have no power to remove him from office.

He added that the Central Mosque in Ogbomoso land and other mosques and the administration of the mosques is the responsibility of the Muslim community, headed by the Chief Imam.

The Chief Imam maintained that the appointment of Imams anywhere in the world is regulated by Islamic rules, adding that the right to appoint a Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land is the prerogative of Muslims in the Ogbomoso community and the appointment is done in accordance with Islamic rules.

He said the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land is not a chieftaincy or traditional title and as such, is not subject to the control or supervision of the traditional council.

He then urged the court to stop the defendants from removing him from the office.

Ayilara said, “I say that the central mosque in Ogbomoso land and other mosques and the administration of the mosques is bestowed on the Muslim community headed by Imam, Chief Imam or Grand Chief Imam which I am one. I know that the appointment of an Imam anywhere in the world is regulated by Islamic rules and tenets as it is not a chieftaincy or hereditary title.

“I also say that the right to appoint Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land is the prerogative of Muslims in the Ogbomoso community and the appointment is done under Islamic rules. I know that based on settled Islamic rules, the Imam is appointed by the entire Muslim members of the community through a committee called the Surah Committee.

“The Surah Committee is a screening committee constituted by Muslim elders/leaders in the Muslim community to make decisions on Muslim affairs which include the appointment of Imams.

“Following the demise of the immediate past Grand Imam of Ogbomoso land, Sheikh Al Aman Yekeen Adegboyega Asafa, sometime in October 2021, the need to appoint a new Grand Chief Imam for Ogbomoso land arose and I was considered suitable for the position of Chief Grand Imam of Ogbomoso land after a screening exercise conducted by Surah Committee led by Alhaji Alimi Surajudeen, the Parakoyi Adini of Ogbomoso land.

“I was appointed the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land in November 2021 and since then, I have been discharging my responsibilities as Grand Chief Imam under Islamic rules and tenets. However, the defendants, particularly the 1st Defendant who is a Christian, sometime in January 2024, a few months after his installation as the new paramount ruler of Ogbomoso land, threatened to remove me as the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land.

“That the threat of my removal became more pronounced when I approached the Honourable Court to restrain the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State from removing or suspending me as the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land and an interim order was granted to that effect”.