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 and 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.

He said the committee found that the compilation and submission of the list of candidates lacked transparency, due process, proper screening and a unified approach.

Oduneye also alleged a breakdown of unity and communication among the three leaders, whom he described as the Olori-Ebis.

According to him, the three leaders failed to classify the candidates in accordance with the statutory provisions of the Awujale Declaration, including candidates from the male and female lines and those born through Awujale Folagbade before he ascended the throne.

He described the alleged failure to properly classify the candidates as a dereliction of duty and accused the three leaders of usurping the powers of the entire ruling house.

Oduneye had earlier led protests by members who alleged that their family was excluded from the selection process and called for its cancellation.

However, the committee rejected the allegation, saying the protesters were backing one of the candidates who was not a member of the ruling house.

The committee, among its recommendations, asked Owoyemi, Yusuf and Ajidagba to step aside in the interest of peace, unity and respect for the Awujale institution.

The ruling house subsequently adopted the report and voted for the immediate removal of the three leaders.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Adeyemi said the decision was unanimous and based on the findings of the fact-finding committee.

He said the committee had investigated issues within the ruling house and found alleged malpractices, including bribery.
“The committee presented its findings at today’s meeting, and the ruling house reached a unanimous decision that they should be removed,” he said.

Adeyemi added that the family would communicate the decision to the Ogun State Government and begin the process of appointing new leaders for the ruling house.

Oduneye, who also spoke with journalists, alleged that the affected leaders committed several administrative infractions, including financial inducement, supporting candidates and manipulating documents submitted during the selection process.

He said the process handled by the three leaders lacked credibility, adding that their removal was necessary to enable the ruling house to establish new leadership and ensure a credible selection process.

Oduneye said the family would not be deterred by the possibility of starting the 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.