Awujale Seat
The Grand Council of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on Wednesday passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of the ruling house and rejected the purported removal of its Chairman, Abdulateef Owoyemi, his deputy, Oladokun Ajidagba and vice chairman, Prof Fassy Yusuf.
The three leaders were reportedly removed over allegations of financial inducement, manipulation of documents and other irregularities in the selection process for the new Awujale of Ijebuland.
The ruling house described the fact-finding committee that announced the removal of the three leaders on Sunday as a “kangaroo committee,” and its members as “a bunch of usurpers and impostors” who had no authority to act or take decisions on behalf of the family.
It also dismissed the allegations of financial inducement against its leadership as baseless and non-existent, accusing the group behind the allegations of attempting to tarnish the image of the family’s leaders and impose its “selfish will” on the selection of the new Awujale.
While passing the vote of confidence and reaffirming its support for Owoyemi, Ajidagba and Yusuf, the family said it had concluded plans to take legal action against members of the group for alleged defamation of character.
Speaking on behalf of the family at a press briefing in Ijebu-Ode, Owoyemi said there had previously been three factions within the family, but that the factions reconciled following the intervention of the Ogun State Government.
He said he was subsequently elected chairman/Olori-Ebi, Ajidagba as deputy chairman/Igbakeji Olori-Ebi, and Prof Yusuf as vice chairman/Eta Olori-Ebi.
He added that Pastor Jeremiah Salami was appointed secretary, Alhaji Adebisi Quadri, treasurer, and Abiodun Ogidan as publicity secretary.
Owoyemi said the delegation to the Ogun State Government comprised four delegates from each of the three factions, making 12 delegates, who were later constituted into a management committee.
Three other members were subsequently co-opted, bringing the total membership of the grand council to 15.
He said: “None of the impostors or usurpers is a member. Consequently, they have no authority or power, whatsoever, to constitute whatsoever, to constitute any meeting nor set up any committee in any material particular.
“We have thoroughly investigated the activities of these charlatans, and we are convinced that they are acting out a script that, if not challenged, would have a devastating effect on the family, disrupt and overturn the family’s entitlement to the Awujale throne.
“Apart from challenging the activities of this group, we are also individually actioning their conduct, innuendos created and the defamation in the law court. They will surely need to pay for their indiscretions, incorrigibility and misconduct.”
Owoyemi further said: “The illegal and kangaroo group led by one Adeleke Adeyemi, the self-styled secretary, Muyiwa Adeleye, self-styled public relations officer, Ridwan Oduneye (secretary of the purported Fusengbuwa fact-finding committee) and Olusegun Olusoga (chairman of the purported Fusengbuwa fact-finding committee), and their cohorts hereby declared enemies of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.”
The family urged the government and members of the public to disregard any resolution or allegation emanating from the purported committee.
The council also passed a vote of confidence in its leadership, led by Owoyemi, Ajidagba and Yusuf, affirming their integrity and capacity to continue managing the affairs of the ruling house.
Owoyemi also appealed to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, to lift the embargo placed on the Awujale selection process since January, saying the delay in allowing the kingmakers to complete the selection of the new monarch was creating room for controversy.
Also speaking at the briefing, Prof Yusuf called on the state government to lift the embargo halting the selection of the new Awujale.
He said the family had, in May, sent an open letter to the government urging it to allow the kingmakers to complete their constitutional role in the selection of the monarch.
According to him, the government ordinarily lacked the authority to halt the selection process, but the family would continue to appeal to the government to review its decision.
He, however, said the family might consider other options if the government refused.
The professor of Mass Communication said: “I mean, strictly speaking, the government has no authority whatsoever. Of course! Government is not empowered under any known law to halt any process.
“Quite unprecedented. And we have decided because we cannot unleash all our strategies in the open. If the government is not doing what it ought to do, we’ll do what we should do.”
Responding, the secretary of the fact-finding committee, Oduneye, in a statement sent to our correspondent, denied the allegations that they were impostors and were working to unseat the leadership of the family, adding that “we are only working to restore due process, unity and the integrity of the Fusegbuwa/Jadiara Ruling House.”
He claimed that their actions were guided solely by the report of the Fusegbuwa fact-finding committee and the resolution of the general meeting of the house held on August 9, 2026, which was attended by 115 members drawn from all lineages.
Oduneye said that “That resolution removed the trio and appointed Prince Adeleke Adeyemi as the interim secretary and authorised signatory of the House pending the election of a new Olori-Ebi.”
He also disclosed that the family members welcomed the proposed court action, adding that “Litigation is a civil way of seeking redress. The court will be the best place to establish who has betrayed the House and who is pursuing personal interest at the expense of the collective.”
Oduneye denied pursuing any ulterior motive, saying that “For the record, my grandfather, the late Omooba Adebanjo Oduneye Eruobodo, once served as Olori-Ebi of Fusegbuwa. Service to this house runs in my bloodline. I have no personal interest beyond protecting our legacy.”
Recall that a faction of the family led by Adeleke Adeyemi, who claimed to be the secretary of the family, had on Sunday announced the removal of the three leaders after a nine-member fact-finding committee set up to investigate allegations of financial inducement and other irregularities against them submitted its 25-page report.
The committee was reportedly constituted in June following petitions alleging bribery and other irregularities against the three leaders in connection with the selection process for the new Awujale.
Olusoga chaired the committee, while Adeyemo Oduneye served as its secretary.
Presenting the report, Oduneye said only Owoyemi appeared before the committee, while Ajidagba and Yusuf declined its invitation.
He said the committee found, among other things, that “there is a manifest breakdown of unity, communication, and cohesion among the trio acclaimed Olori-Ebi.”
Oduneye also said the committee found that the process of compiling and submitting the candidates’ list lacked transparency, due process, proper screening and a unified approach, among other issues.
When contacted for a reaction, Oduneye, in a terse WhatsApp message, said: “I will get back to you shortly.” He was, however, yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.
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 had halted the selection process in January 2026, citing petitions from security agencies and stakeholders, following an earlier suspension over procedural concerns in December 2025.
A total of 95 aspirants — 94 princes and one princess — had emerged from the ruling house nomination process held in Ijebu-Ode in December before the government halted the selection process.Awujale
