The controversy over the selection of the next Awujale of Ijẹbu Kingdom in Ogun state has deepened after four members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House on Wednesday, September 16, filed a lawsuit against 12 family members over purported removal from office and are demanding N1 billion in damages.
The case was instituted at the Ogun State High Court in Ijebu-Ode by Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, the chairman of the ruling house; his deputy, Dokun Ajidagba; vice chairman Fassy Yusuf; and secretary Jeremiah Salami.
The case, numbered HCJ/167/2026 was instituted against Olusegun “AK Black” Olusoga, Ridwan Oduneye, Muyiwa Adeleye, Taiwo Ajumo, Sikiru Oluwole, Kehinde Lawal, Lukman Oludare, Abdul Onalaja, Ashiru Mufutau, Osiyemi Johnson, Adeleke “Leke Adeyemi” Adeyemi and Olukayode Otufale.
The claimants are challenging the purported removal of the ruling house’s leadership and allegations that financial inducements and other forms of manipulation influenced the process for selecting the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
According to the claimants, the dispute followed a resolution reached by members of the ruling house at a meeting on November 7, 2025, a day after the Ogun state government brought the different factions together at the governor’s office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
They said the three previously separate sections, represented by Owoyemi, Ajidagba and Yusuf, were subsequently consolidated into a single ruling house, with members unanimously agreeing to recognise the trio as its leadership.
They said Owoyemi, a former national president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), was appointed chairman, while Ajidagba and Yusuf became deputy chairman and vice chairman respectively, with Salami serving as secretary.
The claimants said the leadership subsequently assumed responsibility for coordinating the nomination of candidates for the vacant Awujale stool on behalf of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
They added that the nominees’ names were later submitted to the Awujale kingmakers, headed by the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, Sunny Kuku.
The claimants stated that a faction of the family comprising eight of the defendants later broke away from the main ruling house and, in June, constituted a fact-finding panel without the necessary authority.
They claimed that the panel investigated claims of financial inducement involving the leadership of the ruling house and later presented its findings at a meeting held by the faction on August 9.
The claimants said the meeting was not authorised by the ruling house but that the faction nevertheless used it to announce the purported removal of Owoyemi, Ajidagba and Yusuf as family leaders.
They claimed that the defendants subsequently communicated the decision to government officials and other stakeholders through a letter dated August 11.
The letter was sent to Ogun state governor Dapo Abiodun, Ganiyu Hamzat, the commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Dare Alebiosu, Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government; the kingmakers and other stakeholders.
The claimants stated that the defendants informed the recipients that they had removed the existing leadership of the ruling house and asked them not to recognise or transact official business with the claimants on behalf of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
They further claimed that the faction sent another letter dated September 2 to the governor, commissioner, kingmakers and other stakeholders, announcing Otufale as the “Single Unified Olori-Ebi”.
The claimants said the faction also directed persons and institutions dealing with the ruling house to channel future correspondence to Otufale.
They, however, maintained that the purported changes were invalid because no lawful authority had convened a general meeting with the power to make decisions binding on the entire ruling house.
They argued that no valid resolution had been passed by a properly constituted meeting to remove them from their positions or install Otufale or any other person as their replacement.
The claimants are asking the court to restrain the defendants from presenting themselves as the head and principal officers of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House before the state government, the kingmakers, Ijebu-Ode Local Government and the public.
They said the actions could affect their interests and those of other members of the ruling house and potentially disrupt the ongoing process of selecting the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
They also asked the court to recognise Owoyemi as the duly constituted Olori-Ebi and chairman of the ruling house, while Ajidagba, Yusuf and Salami should be recognised as deputy chairman, vice chairman and general secretary respectively.
The claimants further asked the court to declare that the fact-finding committee and the meetings of August 9 and September 2 had no authority under the native law and custom, tradition or resolutions governing the ruling house to remove, suspend, query, discipline or replace them.
They also want the court to invalidate their purported removal from office contained in the August 11 letter, as well as the proceedings and resolutions that led to the decision.
The claimants challenged the purported appointment of Otufale or any other person as the “Single Unified Olori-Ebi” or as a principal officer of the ruling house.
They sought a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and anyone acting through them from presenting themselves, Otufale or any other person as the Olori-Ebi or any principal office holder of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
They also demanded N1 billion in general damages for the harm to their reputation, status and offices.
The claimants said the demand for damages was separate from any personal damages claim that the third claimant may pursue in Suit No. HCJ/153/2026.
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