By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered that the current Chief Imam, who is the spiritual head of Lagos Central Mosque, should be in charge of organising the Ramadan Lecture pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.
On Wednesday, Justice Lewis-Alagoa further ruled that since there is no contention or controversy over the spiritual leadership of the mosque, the Chief Imam should oversee the event.
He also ordered all parties involved in the Lagos Central Mosque dispute over the yearly Ramadan Lecture to refrain from actions that could lead to a breakdown of law and order in the state.
The judge directed all parties to maintain the status quo and adjourned the hearing of a motion on notice filed by the Registered Trustees of Jamat-ul-Muslimeen Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, and Alhaji Chief Saheed Yemi Lawal until Monday, March 3, 2025.
Other parties to the suit include Alhaji Chief Sikiru Alabi Macfoy, Alhaji Chief A.A. Mustapha, Mufassir Imam S.A. Gafar, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), Sheikh Sulaimon Abu-Nolla, and the Attorney-General of Lagos State.
According to the motion on notice, the plaintiffs through their counsel , Dr Kemi Pinhero, SAN, prayed the Court for, “An order of interlocutory injunction, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice filed herein, restraining the 1st Defendant whether by himself, privies, proxies, cronies, agents, servants, or such other persons, howsoever described, from further acting, continuing to act as and/or carry out the functions of the Baba Adinni of the Lagos Central Mosque and/or managing or further managing the affairs of the Lagos Central Mosque and/or exercising, any power(s) connected incidental or ancillary to duties, powers and functions of the Baba Adinni of the Lagos Central Masque.
“An order of interlocutory injunction, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice filed herein, restraining the Ist Defendant whether by himself or through his agents, nominees, deputies, cronies or any Person(s) acting on their authority, instructions or directives, howsoever described, from parading himself as the Baba Adinni of Lagos Central Mosque and/or calling, participating in or superintending any meeting whatsoever, whether in his capacity of the Baba Adinni of the Lagos Central Mosque or any other capacity whatsoever.
“An order of this Honourable Court appointing Alhaji Tajudeen Ojikutu and Dr. Ganiyu Labinjo as interim administrators or interim caretakers of the Lagos Central Mosque to carry out the functions of the office of the Baba Adinni, manage the funds and other affairs of the mosque, superintend all meetings of the Executive Council and do such other acts as are incidental to the functions of the office of the Baba Adinni, pending hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in this suit selection and/ or appointment into the Baba Adinni or other vacant titled Chief offices in the Lagos Central Mosque and such further or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”
When the case was called for hearing, Mr. Bisi Oyesanya (SAN), representing the first and second defendants, informed the court that he had filed a notice of objection challenging its jurisdiction to hear the case.
Oyesanya argued that once a jurisdictional challenge is raised, the court must first determine it before proceeding with the main matter.
However, Dr. Pinhero and Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), who represented himself as the fourth defendant, objected, insisting that this was an outdated legal position.
Since it was clear that the matter could not be resolved before the upcoming Ramadan fast, Pinhero urged the court to order the status quo to be maintained to prevent any disturbances.
He argued that the organisation of the Ramadan Lecture was at the center of the dispute, as the defendants were allegedly attempting to usurp the Chief Imam’s authority by planning a separate lecture.
Pinhero noted that both parties had scheduled their lectures for the same day, which could escalate tensions and lead to a breakdown of law and order.
Counsel for the third defendant, Mr. Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Muiz Banire (SAN), and Efe Ize-Iyamu for the fifth defendant, supported Pinhero’s request for an order maintaining the status quo.
Justice Lewis-Alagoa ordered all parties to refrain from any actions that could breach the peace.
“I am directing all parties not to engage in any act that may ignite violence or crisis,” he stated.
He further ruled, “Since there is no dispute regarding the spiritual leadership of the mosque, the Chief Imam, as the spiritual head, will be responsible for organizing the Ramadan Lecture.”