The race for the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland has taken a dramatic twist as the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, removed three of its top leaders over allegations of bribery, document tampering and breach of due process.
Those shown the exit door are the Chairman of the ruling house, Abdulateef Owoyemi; his Vice-Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf; and Deputy Chairman, Adeodokun Ajidagba.
Their removal was announced during a crucial family meeting held at the Agunsebi Family House, Ijebu Ode, after the presentation of a 25-page report by a nine-member Fact-Finding Committee set up to investigate alleged irregularities surrounding the selection of the next Awujale.
The meeting, presided over by the Secretary of the ruling house, Adeleke Adeyemi, adopted the committee’s recommendations and voted for the immediate removal of the three leaders.
The committee, chaired by Olusegun Olusoga with Adeyemo Oduneye as secretary, was reportedly constituted in June 2026 following petitions accusing the trio of financial inducement and other alleged misconduct during the monarch selection process.
Presenting the report, Oduneye revealed that only Owoyemi appeared before the committee, while Yusuf and Ajidagba declined invitations to defend themselves.
The committee accused the three leaders of running the candidate selection process without transparency, proper screening and adherence to established procedures.
It alleged that the leaders failed to properly classify candidates according to the Awujale Declaration, including those from the male line, female line and candidates born through Awujale Folagbade before he became king.
The committee described the alleged failure as a “deliberate dereliction of duty” and accused the trio of acting beyond their powers.
It recommended that Owoyemi, Yusuf and Ajidagba step aside in the interest of peace, unity and the integrity of the Awujale institution.
Speaking after the meeting, Adeyemi said the ruling house unanimously agreed to remove the leaders based on the committee’s findings.
He claimed that several members of the leadership were implicated in alleged misconduct, including bribery and manipulation of the selection process.
According to him, the family would notify the Ogun State Government of its decision and begin the process of choosing new leaders to oversee the search for the next Awujale.
Oduneye also alleged that the affected leaders committed administrative violations, including financial inducement, supporting preferred candidates and altering documents without following due process.
He insisted that the selection process must be restarted if necessary to ensure that the eventual choice of Awujale is credible and acceptable to the people of Ijebuland.
“It is better we do it well than to rush at it and present wrong results,” Oduneye said.
However, the embattled leaders have rejected the allegations, describing the action as illegal, baseless and motivated by personal interests.
Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of the affected officials, dismissed the committee members as “rabble rousers and confusionists.”
He threatened legal action against anyone who defamed him, insisting that the allegations against him had no foundation.
Yusuf also questioned the legitimacy of the meeting, alleging that Adeyemi, who presided over the gathering, was himself interested in the throne and should not have overseen the process.
“How could somebody under you set up a panel to probe you?” he queried.
Owoyemi also rejected the committee’s report, describing those behind the move as “rebels” and accusing them of attempting to divide the ruling house.
He maintained that the allegations were “baseless and unfounded,” insisting that the public should disregard the claims.
The crisis now casts a fresh shadow over the process of selecting the successor to the Awujale stool, as the Fusengbuwa Ruling House battles over leadership, credibility and the future of the revered traditional institution.
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