Awujale stool: Ijebu-Ode kingmakers face Police probe over bribery allegations

The Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has summoned the Awujale kingmakers of Ijebu-Ode to appear at the Command Headquarters in Eleweran for questioning, starting from Monday.

The kingmakers, who play a key role in the traditional leadership structure of Ijebuland, number nine. Among them are the Regent of Ijebuland, the Ogbeni Oja, Sunny Kuku; Adebisi Adaran; Abimbola Okenla; and Balogun Agboola Alausa.

Kuku, a medical doctor and co-founder of Eko Hospital in Ikeja, serves as the head of the Awujale kingmakers and also chairs the Awujale Interregnum Committee.

Three of the kingmakers are currently out of the country, it was learnt, while the remaining six are in Nigeria. Of these, four have been served letters of invitation by the police command in the state, The Nation gathered on Friday evening.

One of the letters sighted by our correspondent, addressed to one of the kingmakers, was dated April 17, 2026, but delivered a day earlier, on Thursday, April 16, through the Igbeba Area Command of the NPF.

The affected kingmakers were invited for an “interview with the Commissioner of Police through the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran.”

The letter, which referenced a February 2026 case of “bribery and financial inducement,” indicated that the invitation was for fact-finding as part of ongoing investigations into the allegations.

The letter partly reads: “In continuation of the aforementioned case under investigation, you are kindly requested to report at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran Abeokuta, Ogun State on Tuesday … at 1000hrs for an interview with the Commissioner of Police, through the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department.

“This is a fact finding invitation pursuant to the investigative powers conferred on the Nigeria Police by the combined provisions of Section 214 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and Section 4(a) of the Police Act 2020.

“Your presence is therefore required to assist in advancing the course of Criminal Justice delivery and fairness.

“Should you require any clarification, kindly contact 08038455857. Please take note that you are at liberty to come along with your Lawyer.”

The Awujale stool became vacant in July 2025 following the demise of Oba Sikiru Adetona, who passed on at the age of 91 after 65 years on the throne.

A total of 95 aspirants – 94 princes and one princess – from the Fusengbuwa Ruling House had emerged at a nomination meeting held in Ijebu-Ode shortly before the government placed embargo on the selection process.

Some sources believe the latest summons for investigation may be connected to the nomination and selection process of the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

The Awujale stool became vacant on July 13, 2025, following the death of Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba II, who passed on at 91 after 65 years on the throne.

The Fusengbuwa Ruling House is next in line to produce the Awujale. However, efforts to fill the vacant stool—including the nomination of 94 princes and one princess—have faced setbacks, as the Dapo Abiodun-led state government twice suspended the process, citing procedural errors and a flood of petitions from interested parties.

Acting on these petitions, the police had earlier invited the kingmakers for questioning over issues surrounding the selection process. The invitation was later suspended midway, reportedly at the instance of the state government, before the process resumed in mid-April.

A source who confirmed the latest summons accused the governor of orchestrating what he described as the “persecution” of the kingmakers and frustrating the selection process.

“They have invited the kingmakers to Eleweran again. The problem is that we don’t know why. They did it before and stopped, then started again.

“The letters were sent yesterday (Thursday). Some of us have received ours through the Igbeba Area Command, Ijebu-Ode.

“It is still about the Oba selection issue. I don’t know precisely. He had taken us to the DSS before, and we were cleared. Nothing was found against us.

“Now, he is using the police again after previously halting the process midway. This time, it has resumed again,” the source said.

Contacted, the family head of Fusengbuwa ruling house and former National President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Otunba Lateef Adebayo Owoyemi, said he had heard about the reported police summon but could not confirm the veracity.

Owoyemi, who is also the Otunba Jadiara of Ijebuland, however, appealed to the Governor to allow reason to prevail, even as he urged him to lift the suspension order placed on the selection process of the next Awujale.

Owoyemi said: “I have equally heard about this latest police summon but I can’t confirm if it is rumour or true. I am only begging Governor Dapo Abiodun as the father of all to allow reasons to prevail and let us have the new Awujale on time.

“What the Ijebu people want is a new Awujale that will consolidate on the enviable and the enduring legacies of selfless service of our highly revered father and late Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. May the Almighty Allah rest his soul.”

Efforts to get a reaction from the Police Command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, were unsuccessful at press time, though sources indicated that he might not yet be aware of the latest development.

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