Awujale selection suit stalled as case file returned for reassignment

A vacation judge, Justice A. A. Omoniyi of Court 3, Ogun State High Court, sitting in Ijebu-Ode, on Wednesday gave an interim ruling returning a suit filed by the Fusengbuwa Ruling House against Governor Dapo Abiodun, the nine kingmakers and others over the stoppage of the selection process for the next Awujale, to the administrative judge for reassignment.

Justice Omoniyi said he would be embarking on his annual vacation within the next one week and might not return to duty until January 2027.

He said he was aware of the urgency of the suit, numbered HCJ/149/2026, and filed on August 21, 2026, but was constrained by time, having only one week left before embarking on his annual vacation.

Justice Omoniyi therefore ruled, in the interim, that the case file should be returned to the administrative judge for reallocation.

He adjourned the matter to September 23, 2026, for continued hearing.

Speaking earlier, counsel to the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Olusegun Otayemi, told the court that all 15 defendants had been duly served and that the family was ready to proceed with the suit.

Kunle Kalejaiye, SAN, who announced his appearance for the 7th to 15th defendants, the kingmakers, as well as W. A. Onawole, a state counsel who announced his appearance for Governor Abiodun, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, and four other defendants, said they were still within the stipulated time and would file their responses to the suit in due time.

Also in court were the kingmakers, led by Olorogun Sunny Kuku, co-founder of Eko Hospital and the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland.

Others include Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House; his deputy, Otunba Adedokun Ajidagba, and the vice chairman, Prof Fassy Yusuf.

Speaking with journalists after the court sitting, Otayemi said the family approached the court to challenge what it described as unnecessary government interference in the process of selecting the next Awujale following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona, who died at the age of 91 after reigning for 65 years in July last year.

He said, “Well, we’ve brought an action, essentially, because there was a stoppage of selection process after it has been initiated. And the law, as we know it, does not permit of a deliberate stoppage.

“Yes, if there are things that cause delays here and there, that can be excused, but not a deliberate, orchestrated stoppage, that’s why we are in court. So, and like you heard the judge, is a vacation judge. So, it’s like if he’s not available when next we are around, it may be going to another court.

“This matter is something that has some urgency in it. Ijebu Ode cannot remain kingless for so long. And that’s one of the reasons why we are in court.”

Also speaking with journalists, the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, said the family had to approach the court for redress because it could not afford to wait indefinitely for the next Awujale to be appointed from its family.

Owoyemi said, “We waited for 7 months. We had only 14 days by the law to do what we have done. And we did it within 10 days and immediately we delivered the papers to the kingmakers they only had seven days to finish and appoint an Awujale.

“From nowhere, a letter came asking that the whole thing stop because of what they call petitions which we never saw, we don’t know who wrote the petitions, the security report which we have never seen a copy of till today’s date.

“And we’ve been waiting for seven months! The Imam, the Muslims of Ijebuland, the Christians of Ijebuland, have tried all they could in the whole world to have access to the governor so that this matter can move forward, but nothing has happened! We can’t wait forever! And we have to approach the court for intervention.”

Recall that the ruling house had dragged Governor Abiodun, the Awujale kingmakers and five others, including the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, before the High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode, seeking orders compelling the completion of the process for the selection of the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.

The claimants are asking the court to determine whether the government had the legal power 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 their statutory selection process for the new Awujale.

They also want the court to determine whether the Obas and Chiefs Law permits the state government to halt the nomination or selection process for the Awujale “under any guise”.

The claimants are further seeking a determination that, having convened a meeting of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and completed its internal nomination process within the period prescribed by law, the family had discharged its statutory responsibility under Section 16 of the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State 2021.

Awujale selection suit stalled as case file returned for reassignment