Sheikh Teliat Yunus Ayilara, the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso says he has been barred from entering the palace by Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, the Soun of Ogbomoso, since February this year.
Ayilara also stated that the traditional ruler prevented him from participating in palace services and activities.
Speaking to DAILY POST on Sunday, Ayilara highlighted ongoing tensions between himself and the monarch in recent months.
According to the cleric, he received a letter from the Soun on February 14, 2024, officially notifying him of the prohibition from palace premises and activities.
“All efforts to communicate with the Soun have been unsuccessful,” Ayilara remarked during a phone conversation with the newspaper. “He has restricted my access to the palace and its services. He even refuses my calls and has effectively excommunicated me. There’s simply no way to reach him.”
The letter from the Soun, shared with the newspaper, urged Ayilara to refrain from any involvement in palace affairs pending the resolution of a legal case he brought against the monarch and the Soun-in-Council.
“Letter of notification: Following the legal proceedings you have initiated against me and the Soun-in-Council, you are hereby notified to abstain from Ogbomoso Palace services and activities until the matter is settled in court,” the letter stated.
“I believe that maintaining distance during this period will contribute to lasting peace. I trust that you will honor this directive.”
The standoff underscores a period of strained relations between the Chief Imam and the traditional ruler, with attempts at reconciliation seemingly stalled.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Justice K.B. Olawoyin of an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ogbomoso had barred the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye and kingmakers from removing the Chief Imam of the town, Sheik Teliat Yunus Ayilara.
Some Muslims in the town who referred to themselves as “Registered Trustees of Ogbomoso Muslim Youths Forum” had taken the traditional ruler and the kingmakers who are members of the Soun-In-Council to court over the planned removal of the cleric.
The case with the suit number HOG/31/2024, filed at Oyo State High Court Ogbomoso Division, has Registered Trustees of Ogbomoso Muslim Youths Forum as the plaintiffs, while the Soun and the Soun-In-Council are the defendants.
The Judge in his ruling barred the defendants/respondents whether by themselves, their agents, privies, officers under their control, or any persons acting on the instruction of the defendants/respondents from suspending or removing the holder of the office of Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land (in the person of Alhaji Yunus Olusina Ayilara) or in any way disturbing or tampering with the office of Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
The ruling said, “The defendants/respondents and their agents, servants and/or privies and/or any persons acting under their control or on their instructions are also restrained in the interim from doing anything under any guise whatsoever to interfere with or impede the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land from carrying out the functions and duties of his office as Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land pending the hearing and determination of the Motion On Notice filed herein.
“I put on record that I have taken judicial notice of the full names of the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land as Alhaji Taliat Yunus Olusina Ayilara and that of the 1 defendant/respondent as His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye (Orumogege III), the Soun of Ogbomoso land.
“The hearing of the Motion on notice dated and filed 26/6/2024 is adjourned to 1/7/2024.”