Awujale: Ruling House Sues Ogun, Kingmakers Over Succession Process

The Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu-Ode has taken the Ogun State Government, Awujale kingmakers and other officials to court over the stalled process for selecting a successor to the late Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.

The suit, filed at the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu-Ode, is seeking orders compelling the relevant authorities to resume and conclude the selection of the next monarch.

The case, dated August 21, 2026, was instituted by the Chairman of the ruling house, Abdulateef Owoyemi; Deputy Chairman, Adedokun Ajidagba; and Vice Chairman, Professor Fassy Yusuf.

Those named as defendants include Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), the Ogun State Executive Council, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Ganiyu Hamzat, the Secretary of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, and the council’s chairman, Dare Alebiosu.

Also joined in the suit are members of the Awujale Afobaje/Kingmakers Council, including Sonny Kuku, Chief Rasheed Adesanya, Chief Oluwaranti Osifeso, Chief Jimi Lawal, Chief Abimbola Okenla, Chief Kunle Ogunade, Chief Agboola Alausa, Chief Adebisi Adaran and Chief Ayotunde Odulaja.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether the state government had the authority to order or facilitate the alleged entry into and closure of the Awujale Palace on January 20, 2026, which they said prevented the kingmakers from meeting to complete the selection process.

They are also asking the court to determine whether the Ogun State Obas and Chiefs Law 2021 gives the state government the power to suspend the nomination or selection of an Awujale.

The ruling house further wants the court to determine whether it fulfilled its statutory obligation after convening its meeting and completing its internal nomination process within the timeframe stipulated by the law.

The plaintiffs also want the court to determine whether the kingmakers became legally bound to choose a candidate from the list submitted by the ruling house and forward the selected name to the Ogun State Executive Council.

Another issue before the court is whether the succession process had officially commenced following notices issued by Ijebu-Ode Local Government on December 2 and 4, 2025, and January 6, 2026.

The Awujale stool became vacant after the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona on July 13, 2025, at the age of 91, following a historic 65-year reign.

According to the plaintiffs, Ijebu-Ode Local Government notified the Fusengbuwa Ruling House on December 2, 2025, that it was its turn to nominate a candidate in line with the rotational arrangement under the state’s chieftaincy law.

The ruling house subsequently began its nomination exercise and held a meeting on January 12, 2026, which it said was within the 14-day period stipulated by Section 16(1)(b) of the law.

The plaintiffs 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 phase of the process.

They alleged that fewer 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 nominees.

The local government later cited security concerns and allegations of bribery and financial inducement as reasons for the suspension of the process by the state government.

The ruling house rejected the allegations, maintaining that no evidence or formal petition was presented to substantiate the claims. It further alleged that investigations by the police and the Department of State Services found no evidence of wrongdoing.

In the suit, the plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that their nomination exercise was validly concluded and that the kingmakers are required under Sections 16(1)(e) and (f) of the law to select a candidate from the submitted list and forward the name to the State Executive Council.

They also argued that the Executive Council has a statutory duty under Section 22 of the law to act on the candidate presented by the kingmakers.

Among the reliefs being sought is an order directing the kingmakers to reconvene within seven days of judgment and conclude the selection process.

The plaintiffs are also seeking an injunction preventing the state government and security agencies from further interfering with the process.

They are asking the court to determine whether, having completed its internal nomination exercise within the period prescribed by Section 16 of the Obas and Chiefs Law, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House had fully discharged its statutory responsibility and could not be compelled to restart the process.

The plaintiffs also want the court to determine whether the kingmakers, after receiving the ruling house’s nomination list on January 19, became obligated under Section 16(1)(e) and (f) to select a candidate and forward the name to the Commissioner responsible for chieftaincy affairs.

They further want the court to determine whether Section 22 of the law places an obligation on the State Executive Council to act once a candidate has been selected and presented to it.

Another question before the court is whether the governor, relevant commissioners, local government officials or any other defendants had the legal authority to order or facilitate the forcible entry into and locking of the Awujale Palace by police officers on January 20.

Consequently, the plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that their January 12 nomination exercise, conducted pursuant to the notices issued in December 2025 and January 2026, constituted a full discharge of their statutory responsibility.

They are also asking the court to declare that the kingmakers, having received the nomination list on January 19, are legally required to select a candidate from it and forward the name to the appropriate state authority.

The plaintiffs further want the court to declare the closure of the Awujale Palace and the resulting suspension of the selection exercise unlawful, arguing that it was beyond the powers provided under the Ogun State Obas and Chiefs Law 2021 and violated their right to fair hearing.

Counsel to the claimants, led by Olusegun Otayemi, submitted in the originating summons that the state’s chieftaincy legislation establishes a clear sequence involving nomination, selection and government approval, which must be followed once the process has commenced.