By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The Fusengbuwa Ruling House has approached the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode, seeking an order compelling the kingmakers to resume and conclude the process of selecting a successor to the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

The suit, marked HCJ/149/2026 and filed before the High Court of Justice, Ijebu-Ode Judicial Division, also challenges the alleged closure of the Awujale Palace by the police, which the claimants said was carried out on the instructions of the Ogun State Government.

The ruling house is asking the court to declare the alleged interference unlawful and direct the kingmakers to resume the selection process in accordance with the Obas and Chiefs’ Law of Ogun State 2021.

The suit, filed and sworn to on August 21, 2026, names Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Attorney-General of Ogun State, the Ogun State Executive Council, the Executive Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Hon. Dare Alebiosu, and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, among others, as defendants.

The legal action followed the suspension of the selection process for the new Awujale by the state government.

According to the court documents, Ijebu-Ode Local Government notified the Fusengbuwa Ruling House on December 2, 2025, that it was its turn to produce a candidate for the vacant stool, in accordance with the rotational arrangement recognised by the state chieftaincy law.

The ruling house said it subsequently commenced its nomination exercise and held a meeting on January 12, 2026, within the 14-day period stipulated by Section 16(1)(b) of the law.

The exercise reportedly produced 95 nominees, whose names were forwarded to the nine-member Awujale Afobaje Kingmakers Council on January 19, 2026, for the next stage of the selection process.

The council is chaired by Olor’gun Sonny Kuku, the Ogbeni Oja, and comprises Chief Rasheed Adesanya (Olisa); Chief Oluwaranti Lekan Osifeso (Olootu Olowa); Chief Jimi Lawal (Olootu Ifore); Chief Abimbola Okenla (Kakanfo Awujale); Chief Kunle Ogunade (Apebi); Chief Agboola Alausa (Balogun); Chief Adebisi Adaran, also known as Gbenden (Ogbeni Odi); and Chief Ayotunde Ola Odulaja (Lapoekun and Secretary of the Council).

The claimants alleged that less than 24 hours after the list was submitted, police officers entered the Awujale Palace after midnight on January 20 and prevented the kingmakers from meeting to select a candidate.

They further alleged that a subsequent letter from the local government cited security reports and allegations of bribery and financial inducement as reasons for suspending the process.

The ruling house, however, denied any wrongdoing, contending that no evidence or formal petition substantiating the allegations had been presented.

It also claimed that investigations by the police and the Department of State Services did not establish any wrongdoing against the ruling house or the kingmakers.

The claimants further alleged that Hamzat petitioned the Eleweeran Police Station, Abeokuta, on February 2, 2026, requesting that the kingmakers and principal officers of the ruling house be invited for questioning.

In its prayers before the court, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House is seeking a declaration that its nomination exercise was validly conducted and completed.

It also wants the court to declare that the kingmakers are legally bound under Sections 16(1)(e) and (f) of the Ogun State chieftaincy law to select a candidate from the submitted list and forward the selected name to the State Executive Council.

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

They are also seeking an order directing the kingmakers to reconvene within seven days of the judgment and conclude the selection process.

In addition, the ruling house is asking for an injunction restraining the Ogun State Government and security agencies from further interfering with the selection exercise.