The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, has cancelled the usual practice of curfew declaration during the annual celebration of Oro festival in Iseyin Local Government Area of the state, by adherents of the faith.
This is sequel to a crisis that was witnessed during the Oro festival celebration in 2019, when the adherents and the Oro masquerade followers attacked some people in Iseyin and massacred them brutally, for reasons best known to the Oro ritualists.
The attacks were reported the same day to the police and Governor ‘Seyi Makinde in a letter dated 12th October, 2018 by the Chambers of A. A. Olowonjaye Esq, while a few of the attackers were arrested but later released without arraignment.
While delivering his judgement in a suit with the no: HSY/MISC/6/19, Court No 7, instituted by Alfa Yusuf Muyideen (for himself and on behalf of the League of Imams and Alfas, Iseyin, (applicant), Justice S. L.
Akintola of the state High Court, held in the terms of settlement of the case that the parties involved should settle the dispute between them on the terms that neither the applicant nor the respondents shall disturb, harass, intimate, attack or do any act calculated to disturb, harass, intimidate or attack either in the exercise of their religious beliefs.
“Parties involved shall bear their respective coats.
“The court observed that the parties to this suit and respective counsel executed the terms of settlement dated 29th June, 2022 and filed on the same date in this case.
“The said terms of settlement is hereby adopted and pronounced as jugement of this court in this suit.”
After the hearing, counsel for the applicant, Barr. Abdul-Waheed Olowonjaye, said the parties to the case have settled the dispute amicably in the case and filed terms of settlement dated 29th June, 2022 on the same date.
Olowonjaye, while speaking at a news conference in Ibadan on the judgement delivered by Justice A. L. Akintola of Oyo State High Court, said it has now become illegal for Oro worshippers to declare curfew for their festival as such would negate the ruling of the court.
He said the parties to the case which was instituted in 2019 later agreed to settle the dispute amicably and filed terms of settlement to the court on 29th June, 2022.
The main applicant in the case, Alfa Yusuf Muhyideen and the Chief Imam, Iseyin Central Mosque, Sheik AbdHakeem Olayori who was represented by Imam Abass Haadi lauded the judgement and promised to abide by the ruling, urging the Oro worshippers to ensure the same.
Commenting on the judgement through a telephone interview, one of the defence counsels, Barrister Diekola Rufai said what the court was interested in was peaceful coexistence of all the parties as neither the Muslims nor the Oro worshippers should disturb each other in the cause of their religious activities.
Respondents in the suit include late Oba Abdulganiy Adekunle Salaudeen, the Aseyin of Iseyin; Taju Âgées Akande, Fasola Oyewumi (The Oniko Ile Agbaa), Lamidi Aaba (Aaba Itan), Basiru Ajala (Aaba Odo), Amusa Esinjowo (Aaba Ilado), Bamimore Omonje, Idawole Ifadahunsi, Ifagbemike Adigun, Jimoh Ile Ogba, Fatai Bongo, Taju Eye, Leyin Fagbemileke, Rasheed Elebo, Toyin Ogundiran Akeeke, Olaogun Ogunyemi Olosan and Wasiu Muhyideen Olosan.
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