By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
The Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode has rejected request by Fuji musician maestro, Wasiu Ayinde, alias KWAM1, for an interim injunction restraining Governor Dapo Abiodun and five others from proceeding with the selection and installation of the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
The Awujale stool became vacant July 13 this year with the demise of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona who joined his ancestors at 91 after over 65 years reign over Ijebuland.
Fusengbuwa Ruling House is the next in line to produce the next Awujale of Ijebuland and efforts to select select the next Awujale from the Fusengbuwa ruling house where former President Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Otunba Abdul – Lateef Adebayo Owoyemi, is the Chairman and Olori – Ebi, have been met with some bottlenecks and in – house disagreements, thereby stalling the process.
The hitches assumed a worrisome dimension when KWAM1 known to be of the Fidipote Ruling House, applied to be considered as one of the candidates in the race for the Awujale stool but the Fusengbuwa Ruling House swiftly rejected his application, saying he was not one of them.
KWAM1 had declared his interest in the vacant Awujale stool, claiming lineage from the Jadiara Royal unit of the larger Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
Rattled by the rejection, Wasiu Ayinde who was installed as the Olori – Omoba of Ijebuland by the late paramount ruler, Oba Adetona, to succeed the last holder of the office, Otunba Subomi Balogun, approached the court to seek an order restraining Governor Abiodun and three others from proceeding with the process of selecting and installing the next Awujale.
Ayinde, through his counsel Wahab Shittu (SAN), sought the injunction pending the hearing of his substantive suit challenging the selection process.
However, on Monday, Justice A. A. Omoniyi dismissed the application, on the grounds that the interim injunction lacked merit.
Justice Omoniyi, therefore, ordered the expedited hearing of the substantive matter, fixing January 14, 2026 for proceedings.
The other defendants include the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat; Secretary of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Oke Adebanjo; and the Chairman of the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council, Dr Olorogun Sunny Kuku.
The suit marked HC3/238/2025, was filed ex parte, was hinged on Order 38 Rules 4 and Order 39 Rule 1 of the High Court of Ogun State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2024, Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction
A copy of the court document dated 16 December 2025 was obtained by our correspondent.
The applicant (KWAM1) urged the court to restrain the respondents from further action on the Awujale selection to safeguard his interest and preserve the res from being dissipated or interfered with.
He prayed the court to restrain the respondents, “their agents, or anyone acting on their behalf, from taking any steps in the installation process of the next Awujale of Ijebuland pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”
The musician said he is an aspirant to the Awujale stool, “and the injunction is necessary to secure his interest and preserve the res from being dissipated or interfered with by the respondents.”
With the interim injunction denied, attention now turns to the substantive hearing scheduled for 14 January 2026, which will determine the fate of KWAM1’s claim to the Awujale stool.
