Nine people and entities have been called before a Federal High Court in Lagos over the arrest and detention of three Isese devotees, Chief Ademola Olawoore aka Baba Tede, Madam Efunsetan Abebi Aniwura Olorisha, and Mr. Adegbola Abdulazeez nicknamed Tani Olorun.
The Inspector General of Police, the Kwara State Police Commissioner, the Kwara State Government, the Registered Trustees of the Council of Ulama (Islamic Clergy), and Justice Salihu Mohammed, the Council of Ulama’s Executive Secretary, are among those who have been called.
Others include Alfa Abdulsalam Baba Tonile Okuta-Agidi, the Kwara State Magistrates Court in Ilorin, the Nigerian Correctional Service in Ilorin, Kwara State, and Sheikh (Dr) Mohammad Bashir Saliu, the Chief Imam of Ilorin and the Chairman of the Council of Ulama.
For allegedly insulting renowned Muslim clerics in the state, the three Isese devotees were held in a prison in Ilorin, Kwara State.
While partially granting an attorney’s motion exparte request, Justice Akintayo Aluko called all nine defendants.
In the basic rights enforcement case with file number FHC/L/CS/1674/2023, Ogungbeje asked the court for eight reliefs and declarations.
The declarations and reliefs include:
(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, 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 unconditionally release Mr. Adegbola Abdulazeez. 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 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 eighth respondent as good, personal and proper service.
(8) An order that all parties especially the 8th Respondent in this suit to maintain 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 was filed before this honourable court.
Justice Aluko declared when the attorney had finished speaking: “Upon listening to the counsel who is the applicant in this suit, reliefs four, five, six, and seven are grantiable, and are thereby granted.”
The judge ruled that each of the nine respondents must get a hearing notice in order to appear in court and provide justification for rejecting reliefs one, two, three, and eight.
Next, Justice Aluko postponed the hearing to September 9.
