The race to select the next Awujale of Ijebuland has taken a fresh turn after three senior members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House were removed from their positions over alleged misconduct.
The affected officials are the Chairman, Abdulateef Owoyemi, his deputy, Adeodokun Ajidagba, and the Vice Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf.
The decision was reached on Sunday at the Agunsebi Family House in Ijebu Ode, following the consideration of a report submitted by a nine member committee set up to investigate complaints surrounding the selection of the next monarch.
The committee, led by Olusegun Olusoga, was established in June after petitions were submitted against the three officials. Adeyemo Oduneye served as the committee’s secretary.
During the presentation of the committee’s 25 page report, Oduneye said Owoyemi was the only one of the three officials who appeared before the panel. According to him, Yusuf and Ajidagba did not respond to the committee’s invitation.
The report raised concerns about how the list of aspirants was handled, alleging shortcomings in transparency, screening and compliance with the established process.
“There is a manifest breakdown of unity, communication, and cohesion among the trio acclaimed Olori-Ebis. The chairman, deputy-chairman and vice-chairman, in utter disregard for the statutory classification of candidates as set out in the Awujale Declaration, refused and/or neglected to classify the candidates into either male line, female line or those candidates born through Awujale Folagbade before he ascended the throne.
“This is an unpardonable and deliberate dereliction of sacred duty bestowed upon the Fusengbuwa ruling house anchored by the chairman, deputy-chairman and vice-chairman who usurped the powers of the whole ruling house,” he stated.
The panel subsequently recommended that the three officials vacate their positions to allow the ruling house to restore confidence in the process.
The recommendation was accepted by members of the family, who then approved the immediate removal of the officials.
Adeyemi, who presided over the meeting, said the action followed the committee’s findings on alleged financial inducement and other irregularities.
He explained that “the fact-finding committee investigated issues within the ruling house and found that most of the Olorebis were involved in malpractices such as bribery.
“The committee presented its findings at today’s meeting, and the ruling house reached a unanimous decision that they should be removed.”
He added that the ruling house would notify the Ogun State Government and begin arrangements to appoint new officials who could oversee its affairs.
Oduneye said the panel also discovered alleged administrative violations involving the handling of documents and candidates during the selection exercise.
He specifically referred to “the issue of financial inducement, supporting candidates, and engaging in some manipulation of documents that had been submitted without following the due process.”
According to him, the controversy surrounding the process had affected its credibility, making a change in leadership necessary.
He said the family was prepared to restart the exercise if that became necessary, insisting that getting the process right was more important than completing it quickly.
“It all boils down to the leadership failure, so the Ijebu people need to relax and be patient. It’s better we do it well than to rush at it and present wrong results,” Oduneye said.
But the removed officials rejected the allegations and challenged the decision.
Yusuf described the members behind the action as “a bunch of rabble rousers and confusionists,” insisting that the allegations against him were false.
He also questioned the authority of Adeyemi to oversee the meeting, alleging that the secretary was among those interested in the vacant throne.
“How could somebody under you set up a panel to probe you? Probe you for what? Who are they?
“If they defame me, I will take them to court. They will come to court and prove whatever allegation they have against me. I was not part of those who compiled the list of candidates.
“They used my office; I did not even see them, I did not even step inside, deliberately, because that’s my life. They used my conference room for the compilation. They are rabble-rousers,” he lamented.
Owoyemi also rejected the committee’s conclusions, describing those behind the decision as “a bunch of rebels.”
He said their decision “lacks substance” and accused them of attempting to create division within the ruling house.
He further questioned Adeyemi’s involvement in the process, alleging that he was also an aspirant to the throne.
“Their allegations are baseless, unfounded and should be ignored by members of the public”, Owoyemi said.
Ajidagba could not be reached for his reaction, as his phone was reportedly switched off.
The controversy comes amid the prolonged search for a successor to the late Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who died in July 2025 at 91 after spending 65 years on the throne.
The Ogun State Government had suspended the monarch selection exercise in January 2026 following petitions from security agencies and other stakeholders. The process had earlier been halted in December 2025 over procedural concerns.
A total of 95 aspirants, including 94 princes and one princess, emerged from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House’s nomination exercise in Ijebu Ode.
