Awujale Stool Crisis Degenerates; Fusengbuwa Removes Chairman, Two Others

● Why We removed Abdulateef Owoyemi, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, and Chief Adeodokun Ajidagba – Ruling house presents 25-page report by a nine-member Fact-Finding Committee set up to investigate allegations against the three leaders

● “A bunch of rabble-rousers and confusionists,” how Owoyemi, Yusuf reacted to the allegations, and removal

Some members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, have removed the chairman of the family, Abdulateef Owoyemi, and two other leaders over alleged financial inducement, document manipulation and breach of due process in the selection of the next

Awujale is the Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.

Those removed alongside Owoyemi are the Vice-Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, and the Deputy Chairman, Adeodokun Ajidagba.

The decision followed the presentation of a 25-page report by a nine-member Fact-Finding Committee set up by the ruling house to investigate allegations against the three leaders.

The committee was chaired by Olusegun Olusoga, while Adeyemo Oduneye served as secretary.

The removal was announced yesterday at a meeting held at the Agunsebi Family House, Ijebu Ode, and presided over by the Secretary of the ruling house, Adeleke Adeyemi.

Adeyemi announced the decision after the committee presented its report, which followed petitions alleging bribery and other irregularities in the selection process for the next Awujale.

The committee was constituted in June 2026 following the petitions.

Presenting the report, Oduneye said only Owoyemi responded to the committee’s invitation, while Yusuf and Ajidagba declined to appear before it.

selection process afresh if necessary to ensure transparency.

“It all boils down to 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, describing those behind the removal as “a bunch of rabble-rousers and confusionists.”

He said there was no truth in the allegations and threatened legal action over any defamatory claims.

Yusuf also questioned Adeyemi’s authority to preside over the meeting, alleging that the ruling house secretary was himself an aspirant to the throne.

“How could somebody under you set up a panel to probe you? Probe you for what? Who are they?” he asked.

Yusuf denied being involved in the compilation of the candidates’ list, saying the exercise took place in his conference room without his participation.

However, the olori ebi fusengbuwa, Alhaji Lateef owoyemi rejected the committee’s findings, describing those behind the decision as “a bunch of rebels.”

He said the allegations were “baseless, unfounded and should be ignored by members of the public.”

Owoyemi also questioned how Adeyemi, whom he described as an aspirant, could preside over a meeting at which his removal was being considered.

Ajidagba could not be reached for comment as efforts to contact him were unsuccessful. His telephone 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 halted 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 — 94 princes and one princess — emerged from the nomination process conducted by the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu Ode.

NOP NIGERIA