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Members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, have removed three of its leaders over allegations of financial inducement, document manipulation and lack of due process in the selection of the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.
Those removed are the Chairman of the ruling house, Abdulateef Owoyemi; his Vice-Chairman, Prof Fassy Yusuf; and the Deputy Chairman, Adeodokun Ajidagba.
The decision was announced on Sunday at a meeting held at the Agunsebi Family House in Ijebu Ode and presided over by the Secretary of the ruling house, Adeleke Adeyemi.
Adeyemi announced the removal after the submission of a 25-page report by a nine-member Fact-Finding Committee established by the family to investigate allegations of financial inducement and other irregularities against the three leaders.
The committee was constituted in June 2026 following petitions alleging bribery and other misconduct in connection with the selection of the next Awujale.
The committee was chaired by Olusegun Olusoga, while Adeyemo Oduneye served as secretary.
Presenting the report, Oduneye said only Owoyemi appeared before the committee, while Ajidagba and Yusuf declined its invitation.
He said the committee found that the process of compiling and submitting the list of candidates lacked transparency, due process, proper screening and a unified approach.
Oduneye alleged that there was a breakdown of unity and communication among the three leaders, whom he referred to as the Olori-Ebis.
He also accused them of failing to properly classify candidates according to the provisions of the Awujale Declaration.
The committee described the alleged conduct as a dereliction of the responsibilities entrusted to the leadership of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
Among its recommendations, the committee called on Owoyemi, Ajidagba and Yusuf to step aside in the interest of peace, unity and respect for the Awujale institution.
The ruling house subsequently adopted the report and voted for the immediate removal of the three leaders.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Adeyemi said the decision was based on the findings of the fact-finding committee concerning alleged bribery and other irregularities in the selection process.
He said the committee investigated issues within the ruling house and found that some of the leaders were allegedly involved in malpractices, including bribery.
Adeyemi said the ruling house would communicate its decision to the government and begin the process of selecting a new leadership for the family.
Oduneye also alleged that the three leaders committed several administrative violations, including financial inducement, supporting particular candidates and manipulating documents submitted during the selection process.
He said the selection process lacked credibility and that the removal of the three leaders would allow the ruling house to establish a new leadership structure capable of conducting a credible process.
Oduneye added that the process could be restarted if necessary, saying it was better to delay the selection than to produce what he described as the wrong result.
He urged Ijebu people to remain patient and allow the process to be conducted with integrity.
Removed Leaders Reject Allegations
However, Yusuf rejected the allegations and urged members of the public to disregard the claims made against him and the other affected leaders.
He described the members who initiated the removal process as “a bunch of rabble-rousers and confusionists” and threatened legal action over alleged defamation.
Yusuf also questioned Adeyemi’s role in the process, alleging that the secretary who presided over the meeting was himself an aspirant to the Awujale throne.
He denied being involved in compiling the list of candidates and said the allegations against him were unfounded.
Owoyemi also rejected the committee’s report and denied any wrongdoing in the Awujale selection process.
He described those behind the decision as “a bunch of rebels” and said their action lacked substance.
Owoyemi accused them of attempting to divide the ruling house and questioned how Adeyemi, whom he described as an aspirant to the throne, could preside over the meeting.
He maintained that the allegations against him were baseless and should be ignored.
Efforts to obtain Ajidagba’s reaction were unsuccessful as his phone was reportedly switched off.
Awujale Stool Remains Vacant
The Awujale stool became vacant in July 2025 following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona at the age of 91, after 65 years on the throne.
The Ogun State Government suspended the selection process in January 2026 following petitions from security agencies and other stakeholders. The suspension followed an earlier halt to the process in December 2025 over procedural concerns.
A total of 95 aspirants, comprising 94 princes and one princess, emerged from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House nomination process held in Ijebu Ode.
The latest development has further complicated the process of selecting the next Awujale, with the ruling house now expected to address the leadership dispute before the process can proceed.
