Awujale stool: Fusengbuwa family removes three leaders over alleged bribery, irregularities
Members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, have removed three of their leaders over allegations of financial inducement, document manipulation and failure to follow due process in the selection of the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.
The affected leaders are the Chairman of the ruling house, Abdulateef Owoyemi; his Vice-Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf; and the Deputy Chairman, Adeodokun Ajidagba.
Their removal was announced on Sunday at a meeting held at the Agunsebi Family House in Ijebu Ode and presided over by the ruling house Secretary, Adeleke Adeyemi.
The decision followed the submission of a 25-page report by a nine-member Fact-Finding Committee constituted by the family to investigate allegations of bribery and other irregularities against the three leaders in connection with the selection of the next Awujale.
The committee was chaired by Olusegun Olusoga, with Adeyemo Oduneye serving as secretary.
Presenting the report, Oduneye said only Owoyemi appeared before the committee, while Yusuf and Ajidagba declined its invitation.
According to him, the committee found that the process of compiling and submitting the list of candidates lacked transparency, due process, proper screening and coordination.
He also alleged a breakdown of unity and communication among the three leaders, whom he said failed to properly classify candidates in line with the Awujale Declaration.
The committee recommended that Owoyemi, Yusuf and Ajidagba step aside from their positions in the interest of peace, unity and respect for the Awujale institution.
The ruling house subsequently adopted the report and unanimously voted for the immediate removal of the three leaders.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Adeyemi said the decision was based on the committee’s findings, including allegations of bribery and other malpractices in the selection process.
He said the ruling house would communicate its decision to the Ogun State Government and begin the process of appointing new leadership to oversee the affairs of the family.
Oduneye also alleged that the affected leaders committed several administrative violations, including financial inducement, supporting certain candidates and manipulating documents submitted during the selection process.
He said the process, as handled by the three leaders, lacked credibility and that their removal was necessary to restore confidence in the selection of the next Awujale.
Oduneye said the selection process could be restarted if necessary, stressing that ensuring an impartial and credible process was more important than rushing to fill the vacant stool.
“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,” he said.
However, Yusuf rejected the allegations and urged the public to disregard the decision.
He described those behind the report as “rabble rousers and confusionists,” insisting that there was no truth in the allegations.
Yusuf also threatened legal action for defamation and questioned Adeyemi’s role in the process, alleging that the ruling house secretary was himself an aspirant to the Awujale throne.
He denied participating in the compilation of the candidates’ list, saying his office was merely used as a venue for the exercise.
Owoyemi also dismissed the committee’s report, describing those behind the decision as “rebels” and accusing them of attempting to divide the ruling house.
He maintained that the allegations against him were baseless and unfounded, while questioning how Adeyemi, whom he also described as an aspirant, could preside over the meeting.
Efforts to obtain Ajidagba’s reaction were unsuccessful as his phone was reportedly switched off.
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 suspended the selection process in January 2026 following petitions from security agencies and other stakeholders. The process had earlier been suspended in December 2025 over procedural concerns.
A total of 95 aspirants, comprising 94 princes and one princess, emerged from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House nomination exercise held in Ijebu Ode.
