The Fusengbuwa Ruling House has explained that it reduced the application form fee for the Awujale of Ijebuland stool from ₦100 million to ₦10 million after reaching an internal consensus and considering fairness among family members.
The Olori Ebi of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, gave the clarification on Friday during Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, amid controversy surrounding the stalled Awujale succession.
Owoyemi said the family reached the decision at a duly convened general meeting after extensive deliberations in line with Yoruba traditional practice. He explained that charging a nomination fee was customary and intended to support the logistics of the king-making process.
He noted that the family initially agreed to set a fee for aspirants, as is common in Yorubaland. During the meeting, members proposed various amounts, which moved from ₦100 million to ₦50 million, then ₦25 million and ₦20 million, before finally settling unanimously at ₦10 million. Twelve candidates applied and each paid ₦10 million.
However, the ruling house later refunded all payments after the Ogun State Government advised that the process should be open and free for all eligible family members. Owoyemi said the family completed the refunds within three days and submitted bank evidence to relevant state officials to confirm compliance.
He rejected claims that the family sought to commercialise the Awujale stool, insisting that the funds were meant solely for administrative and organisational expenses. According to him, the money was paid into the family’s account and was never intended to benefit any individual.
Owoyemi maintained that the family had no intention of selling the throne, stressing that changes in the selection process now allow broad participation by all family members, thereby eliminating the need for candidates to offer money to elders.
The Awujale succession dispute followed the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona on 13 July 2025 and has since involved disagreements over eligibility, procedure and government involvement. The Ogun State Government suspended the process in January 2026 after petitions, protests and security reports raised concerns, while the Department of State Services has invited all candidates for security profiling.
Despite the controversy, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House has insisted that it acted transparently and in accordance with tradition throughout the process.