The Grand Council of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, has passed a vote of confidence in its leadership and rejected the purported removal of its chairman, Abdulateef Owoyemi, his deputy, Oladokun Ajidagba, and vice chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf.

The three leaders were reportedly removed over allegations of financial inducement, document manipulation and other irregularities linked to the selection of a new Awujale of Ijebuland. However, the ruling house dismissed the allegations as baseless and described the committee responsible for announcing their removal as an unauthorised “kangaroo committee.”

Speaking at a press briefing in Ijebu-Ode, Owoyemi said the family had previously been divided into three factions but had reconciled following the intervention of the Ogun State Government. He said he was subsequently elected chairman, with Ajidagba and Yusuf appointed as deputy chairman and vice chairman respectively.

Owoyemi said the ruling house had concluded plans to take legal action against members of the opposing group over alleged defamation and other misconduct. He also urged the Ogun State Government to lift the embargo on the Awujale selection process, which has been suspended since January 2026.

Prof. Yusuf also appealed to the government to allow the kingmakers to resume their constitutional role in selecting the new monarch. He argued that the government lacked the authority to halt the process and said the family could consider other options if its appeals were unsuccessful.

However, the secretary of the fact-finding committee, Ridwan Oduneye, rejected the ruling house’s claims that the committee members were impostors. He said their actions were aimed at restoring due process, unity and integrity to the ruling house. Oduneye maintained that a general meeting attended by 115 family members had resolved to remove the three leaders and appoint Prince Adeleke Adeyemi as interim secretary and authorised signatory.

The dispute follows the death of the former Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona, in July 2025 after 65 years on the throne. The Ogun State Government suspended the selection process in January 2026 following petitions from security agencies and stakeholders. A total of 95 aspirants had emerged from the ruling house’s nomination process before the suspension.