The legal battle over the succession to the vacant stool of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland has escalated, as the Fusengbuwa Ruling House filed a lawsuit at the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode to compel state authorities and kingmakers to complete the selection process.
The stool became vacant following the passing of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona on July 13, 2025, after a historic 65-year reign at the age of 91.
In suit number HCJ/149/2026, dated August 21, 2026, leaders of the royal family, Ruling House Chairman Otunba Abdulateef Adebayo Owoyemi, Deputy Chairman Otunba Adedokun Ajidagba, and Vice Chairman Prof. Chief Fassy Yusuf, joined Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, the State Executive Council, key cabinet commissioners, and local government officials as defendants. The suit also names nine members of the Awujale Afobaje Kingmakers Council, including Olorgun Sonny Kuku, Chief Rasheed Adesanya, and Chief Jimi Lawal, alongside state legal officers.
The legal action follows the formal notification issued by Ijebu-Ode Local Government on December 2, 2025, confirming that it was the ruling house’s turn to present a candidate under the rotational arrangement established by the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State 2021. The ruling family subsequently held a meeting on January 12, 2026, within the statutory 14-day window, resulting in the nomination of 95 princes and princesses. This list was submitted to the kingmakers on January 19, 2026.
However, the claimants alleged that less than 24 hours later, police officers sealed off the Awujale Palace shortly after midnight on January 20, blocking the kingmakers from convening to choose a monarch from the list of nominees.
Although local government authorities subsequently cited security threats and unproven claims of financial inducements to justify suspending the exercise, the ruling house maintained that formal petitions were never presented and that security investigations by the police and the Department of State Services cleared the process of any wrongdoing.
Through their legal counsel, led by Otunba Olusegun Otayemi, the claimants asked the court to determine whether state officials possess any legal authority under the Obas and Chiefs Law to halt the succession, seal the palace, or force a restart of the nomination exercise once statutory steps have been discharged.
The family is seeking a series of declarations, asserting that the government’s shutdown of the palace was an illegal act that violated fair hearing rights.
“(a) A DECLARATION that the Claimants, having convened their Ruling House meeting and completed the nomination of candidate(s) on or about the 12 January, 2026 pursuant to the Public Notice published on 4th December, 2025, and the letter of the 6th of January, 2026, have fully and duly discharged their statutory responsibility of nominating candidate(s) for the vacant stool of Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland under section 16(1)(b) of the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State, 2021, and are accordingly estopped from being required to reopen, repeat, or recommence the said nomination process,” the suit reads.
The ruling house further requested:
“(b) A DECLARATION that the 7th–15th Defendants, having received the Fusengbuwa Ruling House/Family Nomination List on 19th January, 2026, are obligated by section 16(1)(e) and (f) of the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State, 2021 to select a candidate therefrom and to forward the name of their selected or preferred candidate to the 3rd Defendant.”
Addressing the state’s security intervention at the royal seat, the claimants also asked for:
“(c) A DECLARATION that the lock-out of the Awujale Palace, purporting to halt the selection process, is unlawful, ultra vires the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State, 2021, and done in breach of the Claimants’ and the 7th–15th Defendants’ right to fair hearing, and is accordingly null, void and of no effect.”
The plaintiffs are urging the court to issue an order mandating the kingmakers to meet within seven days of judgment to select the next ruler and forward the name to the State Executive Council for final approval, alongside an injunction preventing further interference from government authorities or security agencies.