Members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, have removed three senior leaders over allegations of financial inducement, document manipulation and breaches of due process in the selection of the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

Those affected are the Chairman, Abdulateef Owoyemi; Vice-Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf; and Deputy Chairman, Adeodokun Ajidagba.

The decision followed the adoption of a 25-page report by a nine-member Fact-Finding Committee set up by the ruling house to investigate petitions against the trio.

The committee, chaired by Olusegun Olusoga with Adeyemo Oduneye as secretary, was constituted in June 2026. Its report was presented at a meeting held at the Agunsebi Family House and presided over by the ruling house Secretary, Adeleke Adeyemi.

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

According to the report, the process of compiling and submitting candidates for the Awujale stool lacked transparency, proper screening and due process.

“There is a manifest breakdown of unity, communication, and cohesion among the trio acclaimed Olori-Ebis. The chairman, deputy-chairman and vice-chairman, in utter disregard for the statutory classification of candidates as set out in the Awujale Declaration, refused and/or neglected to classify the candidates into either male line, female line or those candidates born through Awujale Folagbade before he ascended the throne.

“This is an unpardonable and deliberate dereliction of sacred duty bestowed upon the Fusengbuwa ruling house anchored by the chairman, deputy-chairman and vice-chairman who usurped the powers of the whole ruling house,” he stated.

The committee recommended that the three leaders step aside in the interest of peace and unity. The ruling house subsequently voted for their immediate removal.

Adeyemi said the decision was based on the committee’s findings on alleged bribery and other irregularities.

“The fact-finding committee investigated issues within the ruling house and found that most of the Olorebis were involved in malpractices such as bribery.

“The committee presented its findings at today’s meeting, and the ruling house reached a unanimous decision that they should be removed.”

He added that the family would notify the Ogun State Government and begin the process of appointing new leadership.

Oduneye said the allegations against the three leaders included “the issue of financial inducement, supporting candidates, and engaging in some manipulation of documents that had been submitted without following the due process.”

He said the selection could be restarted if necessary, stressing that the priority was to ensure an credible outcome.

“It all boils down to the 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,” Oduneye said.

However, Yusuf rejected the allegations, describing those behind the decision as “a bunch of rabble rousers and confusionists.”

He said the allegations had no basis and threatened legal action for defamation.

“How could somebody under you set up a panel to probe you? Probe you for what? Who are they?

“If they defame me, I will take them to court. They will come to court and prove whatever allegation they have against me. I was not part of those who compiled the list of candidates.

“They used my office; I did not even see them, I did not even step inside, deliberately, because that’s my life. They used my conference room for the compilation. They are rabble-rousers,” he said.

Owoyemi also dismissed the report, calling those behind the action “a bunch of rebels” and saying their decision “lacks substance”.

“Their allegations are baseless, unfounded and should be ignored by members of the public,” he said.

Attempts to obtain Ajidagba’s reaction were unsuccessful as his telephone was reportedly switched off.

The Awujale stool has been vacant since July 2025, following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for 65 years.

The Ogun State Government suspended the selection process in January 2026 after receiving petitions from security agencies and other stakeholders. The process had earlier been suspended in December 2025 over procedural concerns.

Ninety-five aspirants, comprising 94 princes and one princess, emerged from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House nomination process.