Ogun Police Summon Nine Ijebu Kingmakers Over Awujale Selection Bribery Claims
The Ogun State Police Command has once again summoned nine kingmakers from Ijebu Ode as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of bribery and financial inducement in the selection process for the new Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland. The kingmakers are required to appear at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Eleweran, Abeokuta, on Monday and Tuesday of the upcoming week.
Police Confirmation and Kingmaker Response
A senior police source, speaking anonymously, confirmed the development on Friday, stating that the invitation is directly linked to investigations into alleged financial misconduct. "The nine kingmakers have been asked to report at the command headquarters on Monday and Tuesday. The invitation is still in connection with allegations of financial inducement," the source revealed.
Chief Abimbola Okenla, the Kakanfo of Ijebuland and one of the summoned kingmakers, confirmed the invitation, noting that four of them are scheduled to appear on Monday, while the remaining five will report on Tuesday. Expressing dissatisfaction, Okenla described the allegations as unfounded and criticized the repeated summons as a distraction to the selection exercise. "None of us is happy with these frequent invitations by security agencies over unfounded allegations. The people of Ijebuland are equally not pleased because it is becoming a distraction," he said.
He appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to allow the kingmakers to complete the selection process without further interference, urging, "We urge the governor to allow us to carry out our duty and conclude the process of selecting the next Awujale without delay."
Ruling House Reaction and Police Documentation
Alhaji Abdulateef Owoyemi, head of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and former National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), commented on the situation, stating he had heard about the invitation but could not confirm its authenticity. He emphasized the need for due process and a smooth, timely selection of a new monarch. "What the people of Ijebuland desire is a new Awujale who will build on the enduring legacy of the late Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona," he added.
A copy of the police invitation, dated April 17, 2026, and addressed to Chief Adebisi Adaran (Gbeden), was signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Gbenga Adeoye, who oversees the SCID. The letter described the invitation as part of a fact-finding exercise, urging the recipient to appear for an interview and noting that he is free to attend with legal representation.
Background and Ongoing Controversies
This development occurs amid lingering controversies that have repeatedly disrupted the selection process. The police had previously invited the same kingmakers in February over similar allegations, although the investigation was reportedly halted following high-level intervention. In January, the Ogun State Government suspended the selection process, citing multiple petitions from stakeholders and security agencies. A similar halt was imposed in December 2025 over alleged procedural irregularities.
The Awujale stool became vacant in July 2025 following the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona at the age of 91, after 65 years on the throne. Before the suspension of the process, a nomination exercise in Ijebu Ode saw no fewer than 95 aspirants—94 princes and one princess—from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House emerge as candidates.
