Court Summons IGP, Kwara CP, Islamic Clerics, Six Other

No fewer than nine people and entities were summoned on Monday by a Federal High Court in Lagos State, concerning the arrest and remand of three traditional devotees.

The traditional worshippers include Adegbola Abdulazeez, aka Tani Olorun; Madam Efunsetan Abebi Aniwura Olorisha, aka lya Osun and Chief Ademola Olawoore, aka Baba Tede.

Also, the nine people and entities summoned by the court include the Inspector-General of Police, Kwara State Police Commissioner, Kwara State Government, Registered Trustees Of Council of Ulama (Islamic Clerics), and Justice Salihu Mohammed (Executive Secretary of Council of Ulama).

Others are Sheikh Mohammad Bashir Saliu (Chief Imam of Ilorin and Chairman of Council of Ulama); Alfa Abdulsalam Baba Tonile Okuta-Agidi; Kwara State Magistrates Court, Ilorin, and the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ilorin, Kwara State.

This platform recalls that the three Isese adherents were arrested and remanded in a correctional facility in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, for allegedly insulting prominent Muslim clerics of the state.

A fundamental rights enforcement suit numbered FHC/L/CS/1674/2023, filed by a lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, is seeking eight reliefs and declarations from the court.

Justice Akintayo Aluko, summoned all nine persons while granting parts of Ogungbeje’s request, on a motion ex parte.

Ogungbeje sought the following: ”(1) An interim order of the court restraining the respondents jointly and severally, whether by themselves, their agents, officials, servants, privies, officers and/or howsoever called from arresting, detaining, harassing, embarrassing, humiliating, interfering, disrupting, disturbing and further violating the rights to freedom of religion, thoughts and conscience of traditional religion adherents and worshipper and faithfuls enshrined in Section 38 under Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) as it relates to the planned Isese cultural festival to be celebrated in Ilorin, Kwara State or any other cultural festivals in connection with the facts of this case pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating summons filed before this honourable court.

”(2) An order of the court compelling the first, and second respondents to provide adequate and maximum security arrangements and cover for traditional religion adherents and faithfuls pursuant to the rights to freedom of religion, conscience and thoughts enshrined in section 38 under Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) as it relates to the planned Isese cultural festival in Ilorin, Kwara State or any other cultural festivals in connection with the facts of this case pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating summons filed before this honourable court.

”(3) An interim order of the court compelling the ninth respondent (Nigerian Correctional Service, Ilorin, Kwara State) to release Mr. Adegbola Abdulazeez unconditionally. a.K.a Tani Olorun and Madam Efunsetan Abebi Aniwura Olorisha. a.k.a lya Osun from their custody forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.

”(4) An order of this honourable court granting leave to the Applicant to serve the originating summons and other accompanying processes filed in this suit on the fifth, sixth and seventh respondents through the fourth respondent at Chief Imam’s office, Ilorin Central Mosque, Oja-Oba Market, Omu-Aran Road, Ilorin, Kwara State.

”(5) An order deeming the service on the fifth, sixth and seventh respondents as good, personal and proper service.

”(6) An order of the court granting leave to the applicant to serve the originating summons and other accompanying processes filed in this suit on the eighth respondent through the third respondent at Attorney General’s Chambers, Attorney General of Kwara State and Commissioner of Justice, Kwara State Ministry of Justice, Ahmadu Bello Way, Ilorin, Kwara State.

”(7) An order deeming the service on the eighth respondent as good, personal and proper service.

”(8) An order that all parties, especially the 8th Respondent in this suit, maintain the status quo and refrain from taking any action or step in any manner or further court proceedings against Mr. Adegbola AbdulAzeez. a.k.a Tani Olorun and Madam Efunsetan Abebi Aniwura Olorisha. a.k.a lya Osun, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit as filed before this honourable court.”

After the lawyer’s presentation, Justice Aluko held that: “Upon listening to the counsel who is the applicant in this suit, reliefs four, five, six and seven are grantable, and are thereby granted.”

The judge ordered all nine respondents to be issued a hearing notice to appear before the court to show cause why reliefs one, two, three and eight should not be granted and then adjourned the hearing to September 9.