Ìṣese: Court summons IGP, Ilorin Chief Imam, Others over the arrest of Isese activists

A Federal High Court in Lagos, Monday, summoned nine persons and entities closely connected to the arrest and remand of three Isese adherents, Mr. Adegbola Abdulazeez aka Tani Olorun; Madam Efunsetan Abebi Aniwura Olorisha aka lya Osun and Chief Ademola Olawoore aka Baba Tede.

Those summoned include the Inspector-General of Police, Kwara State Police Comminssioner, Kwara State Government, Registered Trustees Of Council of Ulama (Islamic Clerics); Justice Salihu Mohammed (Executive Secretary of Council of Ulama).

Others are Sheikh (Dr) 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.

The three Isese adherents were remanded in a correctional facility in Ilorin, Kwara State, for allegedly insulting prominent Muslim clerics of the state.

Justice Akintayo Aluko, summoned all nine persons while granting parts of the request made by a lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, on a motion exparte.

Ogungbeje, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit numbered FHC/L/CS/1674/2023, sought eight reliefs and declarations from the court.

The reliefs and declarations are:

(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 he 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 grantiable, 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.

Justice Aluko then adjourned hearing to September 9.