Awujale stool: DSS ‘Summons’ ruling house leaders

The Department of State Services (DSS), Ogun State Command, has reportedly invited the three principal officers of the Fusengbuwa ruling house over the alleged sale of expression of interest forms to aspirants seeking to become the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

The selection process for the vacant stool, which became vacant in July 2025 following the death of 91-year-old Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for 65 years, has been marred by controversy, litigation and repeated postponements.

Our correspondent gathered that those invited by the DSS include Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, chairman of the ruling house; Otunba Dokun Ajidagba, deputy chairman; and Prof. Fassy Yusuf, vice chairman.

In its letter, the three family heads were directed to appear at the DSS state office in Abeokuta at 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

The letter partly read: “I am directed to invite you for a meeting with the State Director of Security (SDS), Department of State Services (DSS), Ogun State, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, today, 29th October, 2026, at 1600 hours (4 p.m.).

“The meeting is in furtherance of investigations into activities relating to the sale of expression of interest forms to princes interested in contesting for the vacant stool of Awujale of Ijebuland.

“Kindly note that an officer has been designated at the main gate to facilitate your entrance clearance into the premises. Accept the Director’s best wishes, please.”

Yusuf, when contacted, confirmed receiving the letter of invitation but said he was attending to a matter at the Supreme Court in Abuja and could not honour the invitation.

The professor of mass communication and lawyer said, “I just received the letter from the DSS not long ago, but I am in Abuja attending to a matter at the Supreme Court. I have discountenanced their letter.”

The deputy chairman of the ruling house, Otunba Dokun Ajidagba, also confirmed receiving the DSS invitation at about 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Ajidagba said, “I received the DSS invitation on Thursday at about 2:30 p.m. and was told to report at their office by 4:30 p.m. There was, however, no way I could honour such an invitation when all these matters are already in court. The status quo must be allowed to remain; that is the position of the law.”

Daily Trust reports that security agencies, including the Ogun State Police Command, had twice summoned nine Ijebu-Ode kingmakers and the three ruling house officials to appear at the police headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, over allegations of bribery and financial inducement in connection with the selection of a new Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland.

Owoyemi has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the selection process during media engagements.

He, alongside Ajidagba and Yusuf, has also instituted legal action against the state government over its decision to halt the selection process in January.

The Fusengbuwa ruling house had also dragged Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Awujale kingmakers and five others before the High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode, seeking orders compelling the completion of the process for selecting the next Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland.

The suit, numbered HCJ/149/2026 and dated August 21, 2026, was filed by Owoyemi, Ajidagba and Yusuf.

Also joined as defendants were the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN); the Ogun State Executive Council; the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat; and the Secretary of Ijebu-Ode Local Government.

Other defendants include members of the Awujale Afobaje/Kingmakers Council: Olorogun Sonny Kuku, Chief Rasheed Adesanya, Chief Oluwaranti Lekan Osifeso, Chief Jimi Lawal, Chief Abimbola Okenla, Chief Kunle Ogunade, Chief Agboola Alausa, Chief Adebisi Adaran and Chief Ayotunde Ola Odulaja.

The claimants are asking the court to determine whether the state government had the legal authority to order or facilitate the alleged entry into and locking of the Awujale Palace on January 20, 2026, “to physically prevent” the kingmakers from convening and concluding the statutory selection process for the new Awujale.

On Tuesday, Governor Abiodun reassured the people of Ijebuland that a new Awujale would emerge before May 29, 2027.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday, the governor gave the assurance on Tuesday at the Ogun East Senatorial District stakeholders’ meeting in Ijebu-Ode, where he engaged representatives of various interest groups on traditional affairs, governance and the district’s economic prospects.

He was quoted as saying, “On the succession process for the revered Awujale stool, my administration is committed to facilitating a smooth, peaceful and widely acceptable process leading to the emergence of a new monarch.”

The governor acknowledged the importance of the Awujale institution to the cultural heritage, identity and unity of Ijebuland, appealing to the people to remain calm and patient while the necessary processes were being concluded.

He said his administration was giving the matter the attention it deserved to ensure that the process was concluded peacefully and that the emergence of a new Awujale enjoyed the acceptance and support of the people.

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, citing petitions from security agencies and stakeholders, following an earlier suspension in December 2025 over procedural concerns.

A total of 95 aspirants—94 princes and one princess—emerged from the ruling house’s nomination process held in Ijebu-Ode in December 2025 before the government halted the selection process.