By Atinuke Alao
Justice Mahmoud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has heard three separate cases at the instance of Otun Oro community against the Oloro of Oro, Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye Titiloye Olufayo II; the Attorney General of Kwara State and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Ibrahim Sulyman, SAN and others.
Also listed as defendants in the case are the Chief Imam of Oro Kingdom, Dr Taofiq Sanusi; Baale of Ijomu-Oro, Chief Mattew Awotuunde; Sawo of Okerimi Oro, Chief Rapheal Oyeniyi; and Eesa of Iludun-Oro, Chief Samuel Taiye Otunola.
The three matters, which bordered on alleged disobedience to court orders, the Oro Day celebration and the traditional title of the Oloro of Oro, generated arguments from counsel representing the respective parties.
In the first matter involving contempt proceedings, the claimants sought to commit the Oloro of Oro, the state Attorney General, the Chief Imam of Oro, and the heads of Oke Rimi and Sawo of Oro to prison over allegations of disobedience to an order of the court.
However, counsel representing the defendants, including the lead counsel to the Oloro of Oro, Tosin Alawode, and Sir J. S. Bamigboye, SAN, alongside other senior counsel, raised objections challenging the competence of the suit.
The objections followed an application by counsel to Otun Oro Community, Olasehinde Adeseko, seeking to substitute the contempt processes already filed with another set of processes recently filed.
After hearing arguments from counsel, the court upheld the position of the defendants and struck out the contempt proceedings.
The court also ordered the claimants to pay each of the defendants the sum of N25,000.00 as costs.
In the second matter, which challenged the Oro Day celebration, the claimants had filed an application seeking to stop the 2026 Oro Day celebration.
Counsel on both sides argued over the application.
However, the judge, Justice AbdulGafar declined to entertain the motion seeking to stall the celebration and instead ordered an accelerated hearing of the substantive case.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to November 10, 2026, for hearing, with the claimants expected to open their case.
On the third matter that concerned the challenge to the traditional title of the Oloro of Oro, the counsel to the Oloro of Oro filed a motion seeking leave to amend the processes to introduce a counterclaim against Otun Oro community over its activities challenging the authority of the Oloro of Oro.
Although counsel to Otun Oro community objected to the application, the court, after hearing arguments from both parties, granted the motion for amendment.
The matter was also adjourned to November 10, 2026.
