The crisis between the muslim community and Olomba Fraternity in Ikorodu, which had engulfed the two religious in the past, has rared its ugly head recently over fundamental human rights.
This time around, while the muslims, under the aegis of Ikorodu Muslim Community Association (IMCA) led by Alhaji Musbau Rotinwa, and Sheikh Monsuru Majolagbe, Mufti of Ikorodu Muslims, have dragged the Olomba not only to the Ikorodu High Court, but also to the Federal High Court, to enforce their Fundamental Human Rights and to claim damages for Mrs. Alaba Balikis Taiwo, a practicing muslim and full-fledged Ikorodu indigene who was brutalized by the traditionalists at the Awopa Chamber at Ejina in Ikorodu, for refusing to change her faith. This had led the kabiesi, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Ayangbure of Ikorodu to engage the service of a lawyer for the Awopa Fraternity to defend them against the muslims at the Federal High Court.
However, the issue took another turn when there were claims and counter claims by both sides that members were attacked during confrontation.
A leader of the Muslim group, Majolagbe Monsuru Kayode, who is the Mufti of Ikorodu muslim, visited leader of the Awopa cult called Alapini. It was said that head of the Awopa Cult, Alapini and the Mufti did not only exchange threats but also physically assaulted each other.
There was confusion over what actually transpired as both men claimed the victim of the confrontation.
When the story became saturated in the community and raised members of both groups on the edge, the Oriwu Sun inquired from both sides and members visited our office, separately, to explain their sides of the story.
Details as given by Chief Kehinde Kilani, the Olokun Awo Ijinla Fraternity of Ikorodu, also called the Awopa traditional cult, stated that the late mother of Balikis Alaba was a dedicated member of the group and during her life time held the title of ‘Adurofo’ and she was from the Sukunmi Operuje Family.
It was said that while her mother was alive, Balikis used to accompany her mother to cult meetings and she became a well-known face amongst members of the traditional group. After her demise, the members began the search for family members to take up the vacant post. After contacting Balikis’ elder sister Idowu, a wood merchant at Itamaga, she told them she is not interested in the offer that her younger sister Balikis Alaba who is well known by the group can take over the position of their late mother. Kehinde Kilani attested that on one occasion, Balikis attended the court meeting and she did not object to any proceedings at the court hearing over other matters.
“Even while Balikis was leaving the court, she was given N1,500.00 (one thousand five hundred naira) for partaking in the hearing.
After that event, we didn’t see her for sometime until she brought a family case about her late father’s property at Solomade. We were pleased to see her and took the opportunity to complete her rites of membership to the group.
We were surprised days later when the Kabiesi summoned us after receiving call from the police station that a Muslim lady was hijacked by the traditional council and initiated against her will.”
According to Kehinde Kilani, the Alapini (leader of the Awopa cult) Mr. Ifabolaji Allison, was met by some Muslim representatives at his residence over the issue.
During the confrontation by the Muslim representatives, things degenerated between the two and they engaged in physical fisticuff.
After wards, the Muslim group filed court case against them, claiming damage for assault against Alaba Balikis and the Muslim representative who visited Alapini’s residence.
They are claiming damages of over three million naira and sued the traditional institution at both Ikorodu High Court and the Federal High Court at Ikoyi.
A day after, representatives of the Ikorodu Muslim community visited the Oriwu Sun for their side of the story. Mufti Majolagbe Monsuru Kayode who spoke with confirmation from a senior fellow Muslim, narrated his involvement in the case.
According to him, he was approached by Alaba Balikis who worships at the Alu Suna Mosque and a member of the NASFAT at Ota-Ona branch.
He said after they assessed the threat involved and out of concern for the lady’s plight, the mosque authorities took up the case.
While they were reviewing the matter, they remembered previous similar cases and it appear that the traditional cult group would not desist from taking Muslim faithful by force.
There has to be an end to this, hence, the Ikorodu Muslim Lawyers went livid after getting details of the issue and vowed to get justice for Alaba Balikis and fight for her fundamental human rights. That was how the issue was lodged at the Federal High Court. According to Sheikh Majolagbe, the rationale of going to the Federal High Court Ikoyi was for the victim to have a fair hearing, because the traditional group might influence the Ikorodu High Court.
Mufti Majolagbe also explained that the second hearing at the Ikorodu High Court was lodged after the assault at the Alapini’s house. “The Members of the Ijinla Fraternity of Nigeria whose people are referred to as the Awopa cult, initiated Balikis against her wish.
There was clear evidence. The lady was so frightened after she was beaten and forcefully initiated at the Ejina Square, she complained that she is not safe from the group who have tentacles across town.
“We have to relocate her to an undisclosed area for her own safety.
“To ensure her safety, we have to take her to the leader of the group Alapini to bargain for her exclusion from the traditional cult.
“The Alapini, Ifabolaji Allison began threatening us that the entire Muslim community in Ikorodu cannot rescue the girl from the traditional cult.
“In response to his threat, I told him that the entire traditional community in Ikorodu cannot initiate the girl against her wish. That was when he (the Alapini) flared up and said he would deal with me, as he went inside his room, I sensed danger and asked the girl that we leave at once.
“While we were walking out of his compound, he approached me from behind and dragged my shirt and it torn under the force of his hand.”
“He slapped me and chased me to the road while I scrambled for safety.”
Majolagbe clarified that the two parallel law suits filed by the Muslim community have two different charges, “the Muslim community pressed charges to fight for Balkis’s fundamental human rights, while I filed the second case at the Ikorodu High Court pressing charges against the Alapini for assault while claims of over three million naira is being debated.”
Further inquiry revealed that similar cases had happened in December 2021 where the traditional group in Ikorodu forcefully initiated a Muslim faithful and the incident sparked a protest by Muslim youths until the police resolved the matter.
Again, during the reign of Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, there was another similar incident where the Muslim community prepared an MOU that on no occasion must the traditional council initiate any Muslim faithful against their will.
“We told them that if any Muslim fellow in the community agreed to join the traditional group or accept traditional titles, the Muslim community have no issue against that, however, they must not forcefully initiate any of our members who is not willing to join the traditional group.
The MOU was drawn and given to the traditional counsel/lawyer but the then Odofin who is the present Ayangbure of Ikorodu did not sign nor release the document till date and as a result, truncated the progress. If they are transparent, let their lawyer release the MOU drawn during Oba Oyefusi over this issue.” Mufti added.
This time around, the Muslim community wants both parties to sign the memorandum of understanding. The Ikorodu Muslim Community Association, (IMCA), which is championing the case, is only interested in getting a fair hearing and clear written document over initiation of members.
Unconfirmed sources said while both leaders of the two main central mosques in Ikorodu, Sheikk Seifudeen Olowooribi (Chief Imam, Ikorodu Central Mosque) and Shiekh Yahya Oshoala (Chief Imam, Oriwu Central Mosque) have been playing passive roles in the affairs, they are not pleased with Oba Shotobi over the monarch’s role in the matter.
OBA SHOTOBI’S REACTION
In an interview with the Kabiesi in his palace, he told Oriwu Sun that it was true that the woman in question was verified to have met with the traditional cult. The monarch said he was informed that the lady by herself went to lay complain at the Awopa traditional court over a family feud. It was then members of the group recognised her and remembered she was supposed to take up her late mother’s traditional title. She refused and she was left alone. According to the Kabiesi, he told the group to let her be if she doesn’t want to join them.
Surprisingly, information reached the Oba that the Ikorodu Muslim association had sued the Awopa cult for encroaching on the fundamental human rights of the lady. Being the custodian of tradition, I obligated to get lawyer for the group since the court is involved.
We asked why the monarch did not invite the two Imams of the central mosques for settlement of the issue. He said he invited them but that Ikorodu Central Mosque, Chief Imam, Sheikh Olowooribi did not honour the invitation.
When Oriwu Sun informed the Kabiesi that the Muslim community were not pleased by the position, the Oba took in the matter and as a result did not attend this year’s Eid Kabir reception at the palace.
His response was that, “It is fine they didn’t come for the Salah reception, after all, as the royal host, I usually spend fortune to host them during such event. There is nothing lost when they chose not to attend the royal Salah reception.”
He is actually not perturbed but looking forward to resolve the case amicably where every party would have fair treatment.
OLOWOORIBI REACTS
In an interview with Shiekh Olowooribi, he denied that Oba Shotobi invited him over the matter while he stated that he has tried as much as possible to put the issue behind him. According to Sheikh Olowooribi, he called the heads of the Muslim Community, Majolagbe and Rotinwa, that they should withdraw the case from court for amicable settlement and ever since, they have not reported back to him.
Noting that he does not want court case, besides, he has respect for the Kabiesi. “This is a case that can be resolved amicably,” he commented. As of press time, he has sent message to the Muslim leaders and is still expecting their response. All he has heard so far is that the Muslim lawyers are yet to hold meeting with the Kabiesi’s lawyer to find ways of resolving the matter.
However, Oriwu Sun contacted the Kabiesi’s lawyer, Barrister Oshikoya, who responded that the issue could be settle out of court amicably, but the conditions given by the Muslim group to sign the MOU, have major implications.
As a lawyer, Oshikoya explained that he couldn’t accept the conditions because such would create unfavourable precedence.
When reminded that there were similar incidents in the past, notably during the reign of Oba Oyefusi, there were documents to that effect. The Muslim representatives have proof of such documents and have sent some to the local press as evidences.
He requested to see such copies if they exist. He assured that if he verifies these documents, they will move on with the issue without further delay.
The Muslim community representatives, however, have tendered many of such copies released documents.