Awujale Succession Crisis: Adele Awujale-in-Council Sues Ogun Governor Over AIAC, Ijebuland Administration
The dispute over the traditional administration of Ijebuland following the death of the Awujale has taken a fresh legal turn, as the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council has instituted a suit against the Ogun State Governor and members of the state’s Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council (AIAC). The council, led by the Adele and Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, Olo’rgun Dr. Sonny Kuku, is challenging the establishment and reconstitution of the administrative body, arguing that it conflicts with the traditional customs and ancestral practices of the Ijebu people.
The suit, marked HCJ/201/2026, was filed at the High Court of Ogun State sitting in Ijebu-Ode. It challenges the actions of the Ogun State Government and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs concerning the interim administration of Ijebuland during the vacancy of the Awujale stool. The claimants are asking the court to determine the traditional authority responsible for managing the affairs of the town during the interregnum.
Among other reliefs, the Adele Awujale-in-Council is seeking a declaration that it is the sole and historically recognised traditional administrative authority entitled to manage the traditional and local administrative affairs of Ijebu-Ode during the interregnum. It also wants the court to declare that the creation and reconstitution of the AIAC are inconsistent with the native law, customs and traditions of Ijebuland, as well as the provisions of the Chiefs Law of Ogun State.
The claimants are further asking the court to set aside the reconstitution of the AIAC and the appointments made to the council by the state government. They are also seeking a permanent injunction restraining the Governor, relevant government officials and the Ministry from interfering with or bypassing the customary functions of the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council during the interregnum. Another relief seeks to restrain members of the AIAC from holding meetings or exercising traditional, civil or financial administrative powers over Ijebu-Ode under the authority of the disputed council.
Alongside the substantive suit, the traditional council has filed a Motion on Notice seeking an interlocutory injunction. It wants the court to restrain the members of the AIAC from holding meetings or exercising administrative authority over Ijebu-Ode pending the determination of the substantive case. It is also asking the court to restrain the Governor, the relevant state officials and ministries from recognising, dealing with or providing funding to the disputed council until the case is decided.
Speaking on the reason for instituting the suit, Dr. Sonny Kuku said the action was aimed at preserving the cultural heritage and traditional practices of Ijebuland rather than interfering with the selection of a new Awujale. He explained that the succession process had reached the stage where the kingmakers were considering a candidate from the 95 names submitted to them.
Dr. Kuku maintained that the case was specifically concerned with the Adele Awujale concept and its place in the traditional administration of Ijebu-Ode during an interregnum. He said the council had earlier advised the Ogun State Governor on the traditional arrangement before the first AIAC was constituted. He also referred to the historical circumstances surrounding the installation of the late Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona in 1960, arguing that no similar administrative council was established at the time. According to him, the Adele system, historically led by the Ogbeni Oja, is as old as the Awujale stool itself.
The latest suit is part of the wider succession and administrative disputes that have followed the death of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Dr. Sikiru Kayode Adetona, in July 2025. Following his death, the Ogun State Government established an interim administrative body in August 2025. However, traditional kingmakers and chiefs reportedly rejected that arrangement and opted for the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council. The government subsequently announced a reconstituted AIAC under a different leadership structure, a move now being challenged by the traditional council.
The succession process has also been affected by other court cases and disagreements within the ruling house. The Fusengbuwa Ruling House reportedly instituted Suit No. HCJ/149/2026 against Governor Dapo Abiodun and the kingmakers over the suspension of the selection process. Another suit, marked HCJ/167/2026, arose from disagreements over leadership within the ruling house and includes a claim of ₦1 billion in damages for alleged defamation. Some aspirants have also approached the courts over alleged irregularities in the selection process and claims of denial of fair hearing during screening exercises.
The statement further disclosed that the selection process had been suspended twice by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs following petitions, financial allegations and security reports relating to the process. Although Governor Dapo Abiodun has reportedly assured stakeholders that a new Awujale would emerge peacefully before May 29, 2027, the Adele Awujale-in-Council insists that the traditional customs and established practices of Ijebuland must be respected.
The council has called on the people of Ijebuland and other stakeholders to remain calm and law-abiding while the matter is before the court. It maintains that the suit is intended to protect the traditional heritage of the community and ensure that the administration of the kingdom during the interregnum follows its established customs.
The claims and allegations concerning the legality of the AIAC and the authority of the Adele Awujale-in-Council are matters now placed before the High Court for determination.
