3 Day Curfew: CAN, Muslim Clerics Kick As Oro Cult Defies Court Order In Ogun

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