Justice A. A. Omoniyi of the Ogun State High Court 3, has returned the case file in the suit over the stoppage of the selection process for the next Awujale of Ijebuland to the administrative judge for reassignment. Justice Omoniyi of Court 3, Ijebu-Ode, gave the interim ruling on Wednesday.……
Justice A. A. Omoniyi of the Ogun State High Court 3, has returned the case file in the suit over the stoppage of the selection process for the next Awujale of Ijebuland to the administrative judge for reassignment.
Justice Omoniyi of Court 3, Ijebu-Ode, gave the interim ruling on Wednesday. He said he would be proceeding on annual vacation within one week and would not resume until January 2027.
The suit, HCJ/149/2026, was filed on August 21, 2026, by the Fusengbuwa Ruling House against Governor Dapo Abiodun, the nine Awujale kingmakers and five other defendants.
The judge noted that he was aware of the urgency of the matter but was constrained by time. He ordered that the case file be returned to the administrative judge for reallocation and adjourned the matter to September 23, 2026 for further hearing.
Counsel to the claimants, Olusegun Otayemi, told the court that all 15 defendants had been served and that the claimants were ready to proceed.
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Kunle Kalejaiye, SAN, announced appearance for the 7th to 15th defendants, the kingmakers. State Counsel, W. A. Onawole, announced appearance for the Governor, the Attorney-General and four other defendants. Both counsel said they were within time to file their responses.
Present in court were the kingmakers led by Olorogun Sunny Kuku, the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland. Also present were the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Abdulateef Owoyemi; Deputy Chairman, Adedokun Ajidagba; and Vice Chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf.
The claimants are asking the court to determine the legality of the state government’s action in halting the selection process and the alleged locking of the Awujale Palace on January 20, 2026. They are also seeking a declaration that the ruling house had completed its nomination in line with Section 16 of the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, 2021.
The Awujale stool became vacant in July 2025 following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona at the age of 91. The state government suspended the selection process in December 2025 and later halted it in January 2026, citing petitions and security reports. Ninety-five aspirants emerged from the ruling house nomination held in December 2025.
