ABEOKUTA—
CHRISTAIN and Islamic clerics in Ipokia Local Government area of Ogun State,
yesterday, petitioned Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, alleging that the
Oro Cult group has threatened to defy a court order by imposing a three-day
curfew on residents of the community. They alleged that the cult group has
informed residents in the Idiroko axis that the day-time curfew will start on
today, August 10 and end on Sunday, August 12 and again later in the month and
September.
In a petition signed by their legal counsels, Samson Kayode and
David Folalu of Kayode Samson and Associates, the clerics accused the cult
group of having the backing of the traditional ruler of Idiroko, Oba John
Olakunle Ojo. This, however, is against the January 30th ruling of the Ogun
State High Court sitting in Ipokia that the cult group has no constitutional
powers to declare or impose day-time curfew in the area. They also alleged that
group threatened to attack those who participated in securing the judgement of
the court during the curfew.
The petitioners appealed to the state government
to “prevail on the Kabiyesi of Idiroko and the traditional authorities in order
to avert a religious crisis in the state.” Justice S. M. Owodunni had ruled in
the favour of the petitioners in suit no: M/8/2017 challenging the rights of
the Oro cult group to declare and impose a curfew on the residents of the
communities.
In the ruling made available to our correspondent, the court
declared that the “respondents, their agents, privies and their cohorts lack
the statutory and or constitutional power to declare and or impose a day time
curfew on the applicants or any other citizens/residents in Ipokia, Idiroko,
Ihunbo, Ifoyintedo, Ogosa, Koko, Ilashe, Ibatefin, Agosasa, Oniru, Mede and
Ajegunle and villages thereunder for the purpose of celebrating Oro festival.”
(Vanguard)
