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The Federal High Court, Lagos
The Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an order directing all parties involved in the dispute over the Lagos Central Mosque’s annual Ramadan Lecture to maintain the status quo and refrain from any actions that may lead to a breakdown of law and order in the state.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa, who made the ruling on Wednesday, stated that since there is no contention or controversy over the spiritual leadership of the mosque, the current Chief Imam, as the spiritual head, should take charge of organising the Ramadan Lecture, pending when the court hears and determines the substantive application.
The judge made the status quo order while adjourning for the hearing of a motion on notice filed by the Registered Trustees of Jamat-ul-Muslimeen Council of Nigeria of Nigeria, Alhaji Femi Okunnu and Alhaji Chief Saheed Yemi Lawal.
Other parties in the suit include Alhaji Chief Sikiru Alabi Macfoy, Alhaji Chief A.A. Mustapha, Mufassir Imam S.A. Gafar, Dr Muiz Banire SAN, Sheik Sulaimon Abu-Nolla, and the Attorney-General of Lagos State.
The plaintiffs through their counsel, Dr Kemi Pinhero (SAN), asked for several orders, including an interlocutory injunction to prevent the first defendant from acting as the Baba Adinni of the Lagos Central Mosque or managing its affairs.
The plaintiffs also sought an order appointing Alhaji Tajudeen Ojikutu and Dr. Ganiyu Labinjo as interim administrators to oversee the mosque’s operations, pending the resolution of the case.
When the matter was called for hearing, on Wednesday Mr Bisi Oyesanya, (SAN), representing the first and second defendants told Justice Alagoa that he had filed a notice of objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.
Oyesanya added that the position of the law was that once the jurisdiction of the court was challenged in a matter, the court ought to take the objection challenging the jurisdiction at first before going into the main matter.
However, the plaintiff’s counsel, Dr Pinhero, and Dr Muiz Banire,( SAN), who represented himself as the fourth defendant, objected to that line of argument insisting that was the old law.
Since it was obvious that the matter could not be heard and determined before the coming Ramadan fast which comes up in a few days’ time, Pinhero prayed the court to grant an order for the status quo to be maintained so as to keep the peace during Ramadan.
Pinhero stated that one of the bones of contention is the organisation of the Ramadan Lecture, which the defendants are trying to organize.
He contended that this singular act amounted to usurpation of the authority of the Chief Iman who had the power to organize such lecture on behalf of the Mosque.
Pinhero said the fear now is that both parties had fixed the Lecture for the same day which may snowball into a breakdown of law and order.
Mr Kunle Adegoke,(SAN), counsel for the third defendant, Muiz Banire, (SAN), and Efe Ize-Iyamu for the fifth defendant, supported the application for an order of status quo made by Pinhero.
Consequently, Justice Alagoa ordered all parties in the matter to refrain from all actions that may lead to a breach of peace.
“I am directing all parties not to engage in any act that may ignite violence or crisis.
“Since there is no dispute as to the issue of the spiritual head of the Mosque, the spiritual head of the Lagos Central Mosque is to take care of the organization of the Ramadan Lecture,” the judge held.
The case was adjourned till March 3, 2025 for a hearing.
