Awujale stool: Fusengbuwa challenges Ogun govt’s suspension of selection process

Jeremiah Adeshina

The struggle over the vacant stool of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland has taken a legal turn, as the Fusengbuwa Ruling House has dragged the Ogun State Government and the Awujale Afobaje Kingmakers Council before the state High Court over the stalled process of selecting a successor to the late monarch, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

The suit, filed as No. HCJ/149/2026 before the High Court of Justice, Ijebu-Ode Judicial Division, is seeking, among other reliefs, an order compelling the kingmakers to reconvene and complete the selection process.

The claimants are also challenging the alleged lockdown of the Awujale Palace, which they claim was carried out by the police on the instructions of the Ogun State Government, describing the action as unlawful interference with the traditional succession process.
The suit was filed and sworn to on Aug. 21, 2026.

The late Awujale, Oba Adetona, died on July 13, 2025, leaving the highly revered stool vacant.
According to the court documents, the Ijebu-Ode Local Government formally notified the Fusengbuwa Ruling House on Dec. 2, 2025, that it was the turn of the family to produce a candidate for the vacant stool in accordance with the rotational arrangement provided under the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State 2021.

Following the notification, the ruling house commenced its nomination process.

The claimants stated that the ruling house held a meeting on Jan. 12, 2026, within the 14-day period stipulated under Section 16(1)(b) of the law, during which 95 princes and princesses were nominated.

The complete list of nominees was subsequently forwarded to the nine-member Awujale Afobaje Kingmakers Council on Jan. 19, 2026, for the next stage of the selection process.

Kingmakers’ selection stalled

The kingmakers’ council is chaired by Olor’gun Sonny Kuku, the Ogbeni Oja, while other members include Chief Rasheed Adesanya, Olisa; Chief Oluwaranti Lekan Osifeso, Olootu Olowa; Chief Jimi Lawal, Olootu Ifore; Chief Abimbola Okenla, Kakanfo Awujale; Chief Kunle Ogunade, Apebi; Chief Agboola Alausa, Balogun; Chief Adebisi Adaran, also known as Gbenden, Ogbeni Odi; and Chief Ayotunde Ola Odulaja, Lapoekun and Secretary of the council.

However, the claimants alleged that less than 24 hours after the list was submitted, police officers entered the Awujale Palace after midnight on Jan. 20 and prevented the kingmakers from meeting to select a preferred candidate.

The ruling house alleged that the intervention effectively stalled the next stage of the succession process.

According to the claimants, a subsequent communication from the local government cited security reports and allegations of bribery and financial inducement as reasons for the suspension of the process.

The ruling house, however, disputes the allegations, maintaining that no evidence or formal petition supporting the claims was presented to it.

It further alleged that investigations conducted by the police and the Department of State Services did not establish any wrongdoing.

Local Government, Commissioner Named
The suit names the Executive Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Hon. Dare Alebiosu, as a defendant.

The claimants stated that Alebiosu had earlier approved the commencement of the selection process on Jan. 6, 2026.

Also named is the Ogun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat.

According to the claimants, Hamzat subsequently petitioned the Eleweeran Police Station in Abeokuta on Feb. 2, 2026, requesting that the kingmakers and principal officers of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House be invited for questioning.

Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Attorney-General of Ogun State and the Ogun State Executive Council are also listed as defendants in the suit.

Ruling House Seeks Court Intervention
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House is asking the court to declare that the nomination exercise conducted by the family was validly completed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Ogun State chieftaincy law.

It is also seeking a declaration that the kingmakers are legally bound by Sections 16(1)(e) and (f) of the law to proceed with the selection of a candidate from the list submitted by the ruling house and forward the selected name to the State Executive Council.

The claimants further argue that the State Executive Council is required under Section 22 of the law to act on the selection made 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 ruling house is also seeking an injunction restraining the Ogun State Government, the police and other security agencies from further interfering with the process.

Lawyers cite legal precedents

Counsel to the claimants, led by Otunba Olusegun Otayemi, argued that the state’s chieftaincy legislation provides a sequential procedure for the nomination, selection and approval of traditional rulers.

The legal team contends that once the statutory process has been validly initiated and the nomination stage completed, the subsequent stages should be allowed to proceed in accordance with the law.

The lawyers also relied on previous judicial decisions, including Menakaya v. Menakaya and Garba v. University of Maiduguri, in advancing their arguments concerning statutory duties and the right to fair hearing.

The claimants are asking the court to determine whether the actions allegedly taken to suspend the selection process were consistent with the provisions of the applicable chieftaincy law.

Defendants yet to respond

The suit is yet to be heard by the court.
As of the time of filing the report, responses from the Ogun State Government, Governor Abiodun, the Attorney-General, the State Executive Council, the local government chairman, the commissioner and the kingmakers had not been made public.

The legal action is coming at a time when the vacant Awujale stool remains a matter of significant interest across Ijebuland, given the historical and traditional importance of the position.

The court’s eventual determination could therefore have significant implications for the next stage of the process of selecting the successor to the late Oba Adetona.