The controversy surrounding the succession to the vacant Awujale throne of Ijebuland has taken a new turn, with the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode instituting a legal action against the Ogun State Government and members of the Awujale kingmakers’ council.
The ruling house is seeking orders from the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode compelling the authorities and kingmakers to resume and complete the statutory process for selecting the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.
The suit, dated August 21, 2026, was filed by the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Abdulateef Owoyemi; Deputy Chairman, Adedokun Ajidagba; and Vice Chairman, Prof Fassy Yusuf.
Named as defendants are Governor Dapo Abiodun; the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN); the Ogun State Executive Council; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat; the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu; and the Secretary of the local government.
The suit also lists members of the Awujale Afobaje/Kingmakers Council as defendants, including Sonny Kuku, Rasheed Adesanya, Oluwaranti Osifeso, Jimi Lawal, Abimbola Okenla, Kunle Ogunade, Agboola Alausa, Adebisi Adaran and Ayotunde Odulaja.
Among other issues, the claimants are asking the court to determine whether the state government had the legal authority to order or facilitate the alleged entry into and locking of the Awujale Palace on January 20, 2026.
They alleged that the action was intended to prevent the kingmakers from convening and completing the statutory process of selecting a successor to the late monarch.
The ruling house is also asking the court to determine whether the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State 2021 gives the state government the power to halt the nomination or selection process for the Awujale “under any guise”.
Another issue before the court is whether the Fusengbuwa Ruling House had fulfilled its statutory responsibility after convening its meeting and completing its internal nomination process within the period stipulated by Section 16 of the law.
The claimants further want the court to determine whether the kingmakers, upon receiving the ruling house’s list of nominees, became legally obligated to select a candidate from the list and forward the name to the Ogun State Executive Council.
They are also seeking a determination of whether the statutory process had commenced following notices issued by Ijebu-Ode Local Government on December 2 and 4, 2025, and January 6, 2026.
The Awujale stool became vacant following the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona on July 13, 2025, at the age of 91. The late monarch had reigned for 65 years.
According to the claimants, Ijebu-Ode Local Government informed the Fusengbuwa Ruling House on December 2, 2025, that it was its turn to produce a candidate in accordance with the rotational arrangement recognised by the Ogun State Obas and Chiefs Law.
The ruling house subsequently began its selection process and held a meeting on January 12, 2026, which the claimants said was within the 14-day period prescribed under Section 16(1)(b) of the law.
They said 95 princes and princesses were nominated, with the complete list submitted to the nine-member Awujale Afobaje Kingmakers Council on January 19, 2026, for the next stage of the selection process.
However, the claimants alleged that less than 24 hours after the list was submitted, police officers entered the Awujale Palace after midnight on January 20 and prevented the kingmakers from meeting to select a candidate from the 95 nominees.
A subsequent communication from the local government reportedly cited security concerns, as well as allegations of bribery and financial inducement, as reasons for the suspension of the succession process by the state government.
The latest suit is expected to bring the disputed succession process under judicial scrutiny as stakeholders await a resolution to the crisis surrounding the selection of the next Awujale.
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