A legal practitioner and Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, has instituted a N10bn defamation suit against 11 members of the ruling house before the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode.

Yusuf, an Associate Professor of Media Law and Ethics with the University of Lagos, is challenging allegations of bribery and financial inducement contained in a purported report of the Fusengbuwa Fact-Finding Committee on the selection process for the Awujale of Ijebuland.

Recall that some members of the family had recently purportedly  suspended three leaders of the ruling house on the alleged  misconduct and bribery.

In the suit, numbered HC3/153/9 and dated August 21, 2026, a copy of which was made  available in Abeokuta, the university lecturer and Ijebu Ode High Chief is seeking an order compelling the defendants to retract the alleged defamatory statements and tender an “unreserved apology” to him in The Punch and Nigerian Tribune newspapers, as well as on other social media platforms where the report was published.

He is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from further publishing, reproducing, circulating or disseminating the alleged defamatory statements.

Yusuf further demanded N5m as the cost of the action, while asking that interest on the judgment sum be fixed at 21 per cent per annum from the date of judgment until final liquidation.

The defendants are Pa Olusegun Olusoga Ak Black, Mr Ridwan Oduneye, Muyiwa Adeleye, Alhaji Taiwo Ajumo, Mr Sikiru Adegunwa, Hon. Kehinde Lawal, Mr Logunleko Oludare, Prince Abdul Onalaja, Mr Ashiru Mufutau, Prince (Barr.) Osiyemi Johnson and Prince Adeleke Adeyemi.

In his statement of claim accompanying the writ of summons, Yusuf alleged that the defendants were involved in a body described as the “Fusengbuwa Fact-Finding Committee”, which purportedly investigated matters concerning the leadership and affairs of the ruling house.

The claimant maintained that the committee was not constituted in accordance with the rules, customs and established procedures governing the affairs of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.

Yusuf averred that “on or about 9th August, 2026, the Defendants caused, authorized, adopted, endorsed and/or participated in the publication and circulation of a document titled: ‘REPORT OF THE FUSENGBUWA FACT-FINDING COMMITTEE’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Report’). The Defendants are hereby put on Notice to produce a copy of the said report at the trial.”

He alleged that statements published by the defendants concerning him included claims that:

“there was a manifest breakdown of unity, communication and cohesion among the Claimant and the other persons described as Olori-Ebi;

“That he and the other persons had been involved in a process characterized by financial inducement, manipulation, irregularities and lack of due process;

“That he had a preferred candidate in the Awujale selection process and that his position in the process was therefore compromised among others”.

Yusuf is therefore asking the court for several declarations, including that the statements and allegations concerning him in the report dated August 9, 2026, particularly those alleging or imputing financial inducement, bribery, document manipulation, irregularities, neglect of duty and conduct warranting removal from office, are false, defamatory and injurious to his reputation.

He is also seeking a declaration that the publication and circulation of the alleged statements constitute actionable defamation.

The claimant is further asking the court to declare that the purported Fusengbuwa Fact-Finding Committee was unlawfully or improperly constituted and lacked lawful authority or mandate to investigate or make binding findings concerning him.

He wants the purported report declared “invalid, null and void and of no effect whatsoever”, as well as any decision, resolution, recommendation or act purportedly undertaken pursuant to the report.

Yusuf is also seeking “An order of this Honourable Court directing the Defendants to remove, delete and/or procure the removal of the defamatory publication and all reproductions thereof from websites, social media pages, print media and other digital platforms where the defamatory statements appeared.

“An order of this Honourable Court compelling the Defendant to publish a full, unequivocal and unconditional retraction and an unreserved apology in: The Punch Newspaper, Nigerian Tribune Newspaper, and

“All social media and print media platforms where the defamatory statements were published with prominence reasonably commensurate with the original publication.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, whether by themselves, their agents, privies, servants or otherwise howsoever, from further publishing, reproducing, circulating or disseminating the defamatory statements complained of herein or any words to the same or substantially similar effect concerning the Claimant.”

He is demanding N10bn in general damages for alleged defamation, reputational harm, emotional distress and loss of goodwill.

He is also seeking aggravated and/or exemplary damages “having regard to the reckless, malicious and persistent nature of the publication and its subsequent circulation”.

The claimant further put the cost of the action at N5m and asked for interest on the judgment sum at 21 per cent per annum from the date of judgment until final liquidation.

Recall that a faction of the family led by Adeleke Adeyemi, who claimed to be the secretary of the family, had on Sunday announced the removal of the three leaders after a nine-member fact-finding committee set up to investigate allegations of financial inducement and other irregularities against them submitted its 25-page report.

The committee was reportedly constituted in June following petitions alleging bribery and other irregularities against the three leaders in connection with the selection process for the new Awujale.

Olusoga chaired the committee, while Adeyemo Oduneye served as its secretary.

Presenting the report, Oduneye said only Owoyemi appeared before the committee, while Ajidagba and Yusuf declined its invitation.

He said the committee found, among other things, that “there is a manifest breakdown of unity, communication, and cohesion among the trio acclaimed Olori-Ebi.”

Oduneye also said the committee found that the process of compiling and submitting the candidates’ list lacked transparency, due process, proper screening and a unified approach, among other issues.

The ruling house had on Monday dragged Gov Dapo Abiodun; the Awujale kingmakers; and five others, including the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, before the Ogun State 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.

Among other reliefs, the ruling house is asking the court to order the kingmakers to reconvene within seven days of judgment and complete the selection process. It is also seeking an injunction restraining the state government and security agencies from further interfering with the process.