Jum’ah prayers are set to resume at the Central Mosque Ado-Awaye in Oyo State this Friday, nearly four years after religious activities were suspended following the sudden death of its former Chief Imam during a Friday sermon.
The development comes after a recent court judgment delivered by Justice E. O. Ajayi of the Oyo State High Court on May 20, 2025, which upheld the constitutional right to freedom of worship and ordered the immediate reopening of the mosque.
The mosque, located in Ado-Awaye, Iseyin Local Government Area, had remained largely inactive since Friday, August 13, 2021, when Shaykh Solahudeen Oniyo reportedly slumped and died on the mimbar while delivering the khutbah during Solatul Jum’ah.
Following the tragic incident, a fierce leadership tussle ensued, leading to heightened security concerns and the eventual closure of the mosque in September 2021.
Although prayers briefly resumed in February 2022 with the appointment of Shaykh Ibrahim Kolade as the new Chief Imam, renewed tensions and sporadic attacks on worshippers forced another suspension.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, the mosque’s leadership confirmed that prayers would recommence on Friday, May 30, in line with the court’s pronouncement.
The statement also recounted the events that led to the prolonged closure, describing the experience as a test of faith for the Muslim community in the area.
“We have endured a painful silence, but we thank Almighty Allah that the judiciary has spoken.
“The judgment affirms not only our right to worship but also our right to peace and spiritual continuity,” the statement read in part.
A letter dated May 29, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman of Iseyin Local Government, also confirmed the mosque’s readiness to reopen.
Signed by the mosque’s legal counsel, Abdul-Waheed Olowonjaye, the letter notified local authorities and stakeholders of the resumption of Jum’ah and daily prayers.
Justice Ajayi, in his ruling, stressed the inviolability of religious rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), referencing previous decisions including Lagos State v. Abdulkareem (2022).
He stated: “The right to freedom of thought, conscience, or religion implies a right not to be prevented, without lawful justification, from choosing the course of one’s life.”
The letter was also copied to the Oyo State Governor, the State House of Assembly, the Ministry of Justice, the Amotekun Corps, and the Iseyin Divisional Police Headquarters, among others.
Meanwhile, the mosque leadership urged members and clerics to set aside past grievances and focus on spiritual healing and unity.
“We implore all disciples of the Chief Imam and the respected elders to move beyond the turbulence and let the mosque return to what it was always meant to be — a house of peace,” the statement added.
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