The Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode has accused the Ogun State Government of allegedly interfering in the process for selecting the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, expressing concern over the prolonged vacancy of the traditional stool.
The Olori Ebi of the ruling house, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, made the allegation on Saturday while speaking with an Eagle 102.5 FM reporter, claiming that individuals within the family were being encouraged to disrupt the established leadership structure and frustrate the succession process.
Owoyemi alleged that the government was sponsoring certain individuals within the family to create what he described as a parallel process for the selection of the next Awujale. He also rejected a planned press conference scheduled for Sunday, September 20, 2026, which he said was intended to announce another Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
According to him, any such announcement would be invalid because the existing leadership of the ruling house remained the recognised authority responsible for conducting its internal affairs.
The development comes as the dispute over the succession process continues to generate legal actions and controversy within the ruling house. The Fusengbuwa Ruling House had earlier filed suit number HCJ/149/2026 before the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode, seeking orders compelling the relevant authorities to conclude the selection process. The case has been adjourned to September 23, 2026, following its return by a vacation judge to the administrative judge for reassignment.
Owoyemi maintained that the ruling house had completed its part of the selection process within the period prescribed by law. He said the family was given 14 days to complete its internal nomination exercise but concluded the process within 10 days before submitting the required documents and names of candidates to the Awujale kingmakers.
He said the kingmakers were expected to complete the next stage of the process within seven days and present a candidate to the Ogun State Governor for approval and enthronement.
The ruling house chairman questioned the continued delay, alleging that the process was subsequently halted following petitions and security reports which, according to him, were not made available to the family.
The Ogun State Government had previously halted the selection process, citing petitions from security agencies and other stakeholders. Ninety-five aspirants, comprising 94 princes and one princess, had emerged from the ruling house nomination exercise before the process was halted.
Owoyemi further alleged that some individuals within the family were attempting to establish a parallel leadership structure with the backing of unnamed interested persons within the state government.
He consequently warned that any meeting, decision or announcement purporting to select another leader or candidate outside the established structure of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House would not be recognised by the leadership.
The latest development also follows another suit instituted by the leadership of the ruling house on September 16, 2026. The suit, numbered HCJ/167/2026, seeks to restrain other members of the family from allegedly parading themselves as leaders of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House or interfering with its recognised leadership structure.
The legal dispute comes against the backdrop of the earlier suit, HCJ/149/2026, in which the ruling house challenged the stoppage of the Awujale selection process. The High Court had earlier returned the case file to the administrative judge for reassignment and fixed September 23 for further proceedings.
The Awujale stool has remained vacant since the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona on July 13, 2025. The late monarch spent 65 years on the throne, making his reign one of the longest in the history of traditional rulership in Nigeria.
