IGP summon to Court by traditionalist over detained members

The Federal high court sitting in Lagos yesterday summoned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), officials of the Kwara State Police Command and Kwara State Government, following the continued detention of some traditionalists in Kwara State.

Justice Akintayo Aluko ordered them to appear and show cause why the traditionalists – Mr. Adegbola Abdulazeez. a.k.a. Tani Olorun; Madam Efunsetan Abebi Aniwura Olorisha, a.k.a. lya Osun and other traditional worshippers – should not be unconditionally released.

The judge made the order while granting a motion ex parte application filed by an activist-lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje.

Others affected by the order are the Registered Trustees of Council of Ulama (Islamic Clerics); Justice Salihu Mohammed (Executive Secretary of Council of Ulama); 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, listed as third to nine respondents.

Ogungbeje in the fundamental rights enforcement suit is seeking eight reliefs and declarations. The first to eight reliefs and declarations include an interim order restraining the respondents 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 worshippers and faithful” concerning “the planned Isese cultural festival to be celebrated in Ilorin, Kwara State or any other cultural festival” in pending the determination of the substantive suit.

“An order of the court compelling the first and second respondents to provide adequate and maximum-security arrangement and cover for traditional religion adherents and faithful, pursuant to the rights to freedom of ‘religion, conscience and thoughts” as it relates to the planned Isese cultural festival.

An interim order of the court compelling the 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.

Justice Aluko held: “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 that hearing notices be issued to all respondents to appear before the court and show cause while other reliefs one, two, three and eight, should not be granted.