Emir Of Ilorin Charged To Court For Allegedly Blocking Traditional Festival

,,,,,The Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has been taken to court on allegations of obstructing traditional religious adherents from conducting their Isese festival in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The lawsuit has been filed in the Kwara State High Court by Malcolm Omirhobo, a Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist who identifies himself as an Olokun worshipper

,,,,,,,Omirhobo contends that the Emir’s actions contravene constitutional rights such as the “freedom of dignity of the human person, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly,” as enshrined in Section 38, subsection 1 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The petitioner’s lawsuit seeks a declaration that Ilorin, like all other regions of Nigeria, is a multicultural and multi-religious society/city. As such, the respondent (Emir) lacks the constitutional authority to prohibit or ban the Isese festival in Ilorin, Kwara State.

,,,,,,This prohibition, according to the lawsuit, prevents the applicant from participating in communal bonding, celebration, worship, and merry-making with the African traditionalist/Olokun worshippers community.

Omirhobo further requests the court to issue a “perpetual injunction” against the Emir and his representatives. This injunction would prevent them from engaging in behaviors that would undermine the applicant’s fundamental rights.

,,,,,The applicant seeks to safeguard his rights to human dignity, freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, as well as freedom of movement alongside fellow Olokun worshippers in both private and public settings within Ilorin, Kwara State.