The Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, his deputy, Otunba Dokun Ajidagba, the vice chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, and the Secretary, Pastor Jeremiah Salami, have dragged 12 other members of the family before the Ogun State High Court. They are challenging allegations of financial inducement and manipulation in the selection process for the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
The four leaders, on behalf of themselves and the family, are asking the court to award N1bn in damages against the 12 defendants for allegedly making unfounded allegations of financial inducement and other infractions against them. The suit, marked HCJ/167/2026, was filed on September 16, 2026. Those sued include Pa Olusegun Olusoga, Ridwan Oduneye, and Muyiwa Adeleye, among others.
According to the claimants, a meeting of the ruling house on November 7, 2025, merged three separate units of the ruling house into one, with Owoyemi, Ajidagba, and Yusuf as leaders. The leadership forwarded the list of nominated candidates to the Awujale kingmakers, led by Chief Olorogun Dr Sunny Kuku. The claimants alleged that a breakaway unit of the family formed an illegal fact-finding committee in June to investigate allegations of financial inducement against the ruling house leadership.
The breakaway unit, including eight of the defendants, announced the submission of its fact-finding committee report and purportedly removed Owoyemi, Ajidagba, and Yusuf as leaders of the family at a meeting on August 9. The defendants were also alleged to have written a letter to Governor Dapo Abiodun, notifying him of the purported removal of the ruling house leadership.
The claimants averred that the representation is false and that no valid resolution of the Ruling House has removed them or appointed Otunba Olukayode Otufale as the “Single Unified Olori-Ebi” of the ruling house. They are seeking a declaration that Owoyemi is the duly recognised Olori-Ebi and Chairman, and that the purported removal from office is unlawful, null, and void.
The claimants are also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as leaders or representatives of the ruling house. They are seeking N1bn in general damages for the alleged injury to their reputation, standing, and offices. The latest suit comes against the backdrop of an earlier legal action by the ruling house against Governor Abiodun, the Awujale kingmakers, and others over the selection of the next Awujale.
Key points
- The Fusengbuwa Ruling House leaders are suing 12 family members for allegedly making unfounded allegations of financial inducement and other infractions against them.
- The claimants are seeking N1bn in damages and a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as leaders or representatives of the ruling house.
- The suit is related to the selection process for the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
