The Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu-Ode has dragged the Ogun State Government, the Awujale kingmakers and other stakeholders before the Ogun State 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, dated August 21, 2026, and made available to journalists on Monday, was filed by the Chairman of the ruling house, Abdulateef Owoyemi; Deputy Chairman, Adedokun Ajidagba; and Vice Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf.

The defendants include Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the State, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN); the Ogun State Executive Council; the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat; the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu; and the Secretary of the council.

Also joined as defendants are members of the Awujale Afobaje/Kingmakers Council, including Sonny Kuku, Chief Rasheed Adesanya, Chief Oluwaranti Osifeso, Chief Jimi Lawal, Chief Abimbola Okenla, Chief Kunle Ogunade, Chief Agboola Alausa, Chief Adebisi Adaran and Chief Ayotunde Odulaja.

In the suit, 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, allegedly to prevent the kingmakers from convening and concluding the statutory selection process for a new monarch.

They also want the court to determine whether the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State 2021 empowers the state government to halt the nomination or selection process for the Awujale under any guise.

The claimants further want the court to determine whether, 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 law.

They are also asking the court to determine whether the kingmakers, having received the ruling house’s nomination list, became legally obligated to select a candidate from the list and forward the name to the Ogun State Executive Council.

The claimants further want the court to determine whether the statutory process for selecting the new Awujale had commenced following notices issued by Ijebu-Ode Local Government on December 2, December 4, 2025, and January 6, 2026.

The Awujale stool became vacant following the death of the late monarch, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, on July 13, 2025, at the age of 91, after a historic 65-year reign.

According to the claimants, Ijebu-Ode Local Government notified the Fusengbuwa Ruling House on December 2, 2025, that it was its turn to produce a candidate under the rotational arrangement provided by the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State 2021.

The ruling house subsequently commenced its nomination process and held a meeting on January 12, 2026, within the 14-day period prescribed under Section 16(1)(b) of the law.

The claimants said 95 princes and princesses were nominated, with the full list forwarded to the nine-member Awujale Afobaje Kingmakers Council on January 19, 2026, for the next stage of the selection process.

However, they alleged that less than 24 hours after the list was submitted, police officers stormed the Awujale Palace after midnight on January 20 and prevented the kingmakers from meeting to select a preferred candidate from among the 95 nominees.

A subsequent letter from the local government reportedly cited security concerns and allegations of bribery and financial inducement as reasons for the suspension of the process by the state government.

The ruling house, however, disputed the allegations, contending that no evidence or formal petition supporting them was presented. It further claimed that investigations by the police and the Department of State Services did not establish any wrongdoing.

In the suit, the claimants are asking the court to declare that the nomination process was validly completed and that the kingmakers are legally required under Sections 16(1)(e) and (f) of the law to select a candidate from the submitted list and forward the name to the State Executive Council.

They also contend that the Executive Council is required under Section 22 of the law to act on the kingmakers’ selection.

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.

In one of the questions submitted for determination, the claimants asked the court to determine whether, having complied with the provisions of Section 16(c) of the Obas and Chiefs Law and completed its internal nomination process within the prescribed period, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House had fully discharged its statutory responsibility.

They also asked the court to determine whether, upon receiving the ruling house’s nomination list on January 19, 2026, the kingmakers became obligated under Section 16(1)(e) and (f) to select a candidate and forward the name to the appropriate authority.

The claimants further asked whether, under Section 22 of the law, the Ogun State Executive Council is obligated to act upon the presentation of a selected candidate.

They also challenged the legality of the alleged midnight entry and subsequent locking of the Awujale Palace, asking whether the state government or any of its officials had the power under the law to order or facilitate such an action.

Consequently, the claimants are seeking, among other reliefs, declarations that they had duly discharged their statutory responsibility by completing the nomination process on January 12, 2026, and should not be required to reopen, repeat or recommence the process.

They are also seeking a declaration that the kingmakers, having received the Fusengbuwa Ruling House nomination list on January 19, 2026, are obligated to select a candidate from the list and forward the name to the Ogun State Executive Council.

The ruling house is further asking the court to declare the locking of the Awujale Palace, which allegedly halted the selection process, unlawful, ultra vires the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State 2021, and in breach of the claimants’ and kingmakers’ right to fair hearing.

Counsel for the claimants, led by Olusegun Otayemi, argued in the originating summons that the state’s chieftaincy law provides a sequential process of nomination, selection and approval, which must be followed once initiated.