Admin l Thursday, February 22, 2018
OGUN, Nigeria – An Ogun State High Court sitting in Ipokia, Ogun State has declared as illegal and unlawful daytime observance of Oro Festival and restriction of movement. Justice Sikiru Owodunni made the declaration while ruling on a suit brought before him by Christian Association of Nigeria and Muslim Community in Ipokia against devotees of Oro rituals.
The court ordered that the Oro Festival or ritual could only be celebrated by night between 12:am and 4:am and subject to the approval and undertaken to maintain peace. Justice Sikiru Owodunni ruled that Oro Festival worshippers have no constitutional authority to impose curfew on residents of Ipokia, Idi-Iroko, Ihunbo, Ifonyintedo, Ogosa, Koko, Ilashe, Ibatefin, Agosasa, Oniru, Mede, Ajegunle and other villages in the area.
The Court also ordered a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their privies, agents and cohorts from declaring or imposing a daytime curfew or in any manner interfering with the fundamental rights of the applicants to freedom of movements.
