Awujale: Fusengbuwa Ruling House Removes Three Leaders Over Alleged Fraud

The Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, has removed three of its 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.

Those removed are the Chairman of the ruling house, Abdulateef Owoyemi; his Vice-Chairman, Prof Fassy Yusuf; and Deputy Chairman, Adeodokun Ajidagba.

The decision was taken at a meeting held on Sunday at the Agunsebi Family House in Ijebu Ode and presided over by the ruling house secretary, Adeleke Adeyemi.

Adeyemi announced the removal after a nine-member fact-finding committee submitted a 25-page report on allegations made against the three leaders in connection with the selection process.

The committee, chaired by Olusegun Olusoga with Adeyemo Oduneye as secretary, was constituted in June following petitions alleging bribery and other irregularities.

Presenting the report, Oduneye said only Owoyemi appeared before the committee, while Yusuf and Ajidagba declined invitations to appear.

The committee said it found a breakdown of unity and communication among the three leaders and faulted the process used to compile and submit the list of candidates for the Awujale stool.

It also alleged that the leaders failed to properly classify candidates according to the statutory requirements contained in the Awujale Declaration.

According to the committee, the alleged failures amounted to a dereliction of the responsibilities entrusted to the ruling house leadership.

The committee recommended that the three leaders step aside in the interest of peace, unity and the integrity of the Awujale institution.

The ruling house subsequently adopted the report and voted for their immediate removal.

Adeyemi said the decision was based on the committee’s findings concerning alleged bribery, manipulation and other irregularities in the selection process.

He said the ruling house would communicate the decision to the Ogun State Government and begin the process of appointing new leadership to oversee the selection.

Oduneye also alleged that the three leaders committed administrative violations involving financial inducement, support for candidates and manipulation of documents without following due process.

He said the family was prepared to restart the selection process if necessary, arguing that a transparent 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 the wrong result,” Oduneye said.

However, Yusuf rejected the allegations and described those behind the decision as “a bunch of rabble rousers and confusionists.”

He denied any wrongdoing and threatened legal action for defamation.

Yusuf also questioned Adeyemi’s involvement in the process, alleging that the ruling house secretary who presided over the meeting was himself an aspirant to the Awujale throne.

Owoyemi equally rejected the committee’s findings, describing its members as “rebels” and accusing them of attempting to divide the ruling house.

He also questioned how Adeyemi could preside over a meeting concerning his removal when, according to him, the secretary was also a candidate for the throne.

Ajidagba could not be reached for comment 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 had suspended the selection process in January 2026 following petitions from security agencies and stakeholders.

A total of 95 aspirants, comprising 94 princes and one princess, emerged from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House nomination process.