The leadership crisis rocking the Fusengbuwa Ruling House has deepened with four authentic leaders dragging 12 members of the family before the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode, challenging their purported removal from office and seeking N1 billion in damages over allegations linked to the selection of the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
The suit was filed by the Chairman of the ruling house, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi; Deputy Chairman, Otunba Dokun Ajidagba; Vice Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf; and Secretary, Pastor Jeremiah Salami.
The claimants are also asking the court to restrain the defendants from parading themselves as leaders or representatives of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
In the suit, marked HCJ/167/2026 and dated September 16, 2026, the four leaders challenged allegations of financial inducement and other alleged irregularities in the nomination process for the next Awujale.
They are seeking N1 billion in general damages, alleging that the defendants made unfounded allegations against them and purportedly interfered with the leadership structure of the ruling house.
The defendants are Pa Olusegun Olusoga, also known as “AK Black”; Ridwan Oduneye; Muyiwa Adeleye; Alhaji Taiwo Ajumo; Sikiru Adegunwa Oluwole; Hon. Kehinde Lawal; Lukman Logunleko Oludare; Prince Abdul Onalaja; Ashiru Mufutau; Prince (Barr.) Osiyemi Johnson; Prince Adeleke Adeyemi, also known as “Leke Adeyemi”; and Otunba Olukayode Otufale.
According to the claimants, three separate units of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House were merged into a single structure following a meeting on November 7, 2025, after an earlier meeting convened by the Ogun State Government at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta.
They said the meeting unanimously adopted a leadership structure headed by Owoyemi, with Ajidagba and Yusuf as deputy and vice chairmen respectively, while Salami served as secretary.
The claimants said the leadership subsequently handled the nomination of candidates for the vacant Awujale throne and forwarded the list to the kingmakers led by the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, Chief Olorogun Dr Sunny Kuku.
However, they alleged that a breakaway faction of the family constituted a fact-finding committee in June 2026 to investigate allegations of financial inducement against the ruling house leadership.
The claimants said the committee was not lawfully constituted and that a subsequent meeting held on August 9, 2026, which they said was not authorised or ratified by the ruling house, purportedly removed Owoyemi, Ajidagba and Yusuf from their positions.
They further alleged that the defendants notified Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, and the Awujale kingmakers of the purported removal in a letter dated August 11.
The claimants also challenged a September 2 letter in which the breakaway faction allegedly announced Otunba Olukayode Otufale as the “Single Unified Olori-Ebi” of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
They maintained that no properly constituted general meeting of the ruling house had removed them from office or appointed anyone to replace them.
The claimants are therefore asking the court to declare them the duly recognised officers of the ruling house pursuant to the November 7, 2025 resolution.
They also want the court to declare the purported fact-finding committee, the August 9 meeting and subsequent resolutions removing them from office unlawful, null and void.
In addition, they are seeking a declaration invalidating the alleged appointment of Otufale as “Single Unified Olori-Ebi” and a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from presenting themselves or any other person as principal officers of the ruling house.
The claimants argued that allowing the defendants to continue representing themselves as the leadership of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House could prejudice the family and disrupt the “pending and time-sensitive” process for selecting the next Awujale.
They are also seeking N1 billion in general damages for the alleged injury to their reputation, standing and offices.
The latest suit is connected to an earlier legal battle over the stalled selection of the next Awujale.
In Suit No. HCJ/149/2026, the ruling house had sued Governor Abiodun, the Awujale kingmakers and other parties, including the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, seeking orders compelling the completion of the selection process.
Justice A. A. Omoniyi of Court 3, Ogun State High Court, sitting in Ijebu-Ode, recently returned the earlier suit to the administrative judge for reassignment because of his impending annual vacation.
The judge said he was aware of the urgency of the case but had only about a week remaining before commencing his vacation and might not resume until January 2027.
The case has been adjourned to Wednesday, September 23, 2026, for further proceedings.
The Awujale stool became vacant in July 13, 2025 following the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona at the age of 91, after 65 years reign on the throne.
However, attempts by the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, the next in line to produce the next Awujale have been mired in unending setbacks days since the royal family commenced the selection process.
The Ogun State Government suspended the selection process in January 2026 following petitions from security agencies and stakeholders, after an earlier suspension in December 2025 over procedural concerns.
Before the suspension, 95 aspirants — 94 princes and one princess — had emerged from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House nomination exercise held in Ijebu-Ode in December 2025.
