Awujale Stool Dispute: Full Account of Court’s Decision and the Road Ahead

The legal contest over the vacant Awujale of Ijebuland stool took a key procedural turn at the Ogun State High Court, Ijebu-Ode, as the court declined an interim injunction sought by aspirant Otunba Wasiu Olasunkanmi Ayinde Adesanya Marshall, while scheduling a fast-tracked hearing of the substantive suit for 14 January 2026.

Presiding over High Court 3, Hon. Justice A. A. Omoniyi held that the interim relief was not justified at this stage, but emphasised that the issues raised warranted prompt judicial consideration.

During the hearing, Marshall’s counsel, Barrister Dr. Wahab Shittu, a former EFCC prosecutor, urged the court to grant the injunction to safeguard his client’s constitutional right to fair hearing. He argued that without such protection, ongoing succession activities could prejudice the applicant’s interest and potentially undermine the court’s eventual determination of the substantive suit.

Shittu also highlighted that the case involves alleged breaches of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law and constitutional provisions, emphasizing the importance of judicial intervention.

Mrs. Fiona, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions at the Ogun State Ministry of Justice, led Miss Abimbola Odibanjo to observe proceedings on behalf of the state government.

On behalf of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Prof. Fassy Adetokunboh Yusuf led a team including Mr. Wake Ogunade, Mr. Moruff Balogun, and Princess Abolanle Olaide Salami to observe the hearing.

After the ruling, Yusuf welcomed the court’s decision, describing it as procedurally sound. He noted that the refusal of the interim injunction was appropriate because the application had been made ex parte, without giving the respondents notice. Yusuf emphasized that the court’s decision allows the succession process to continue while still preserving the opportunity for the substantive suit to be fully heard, and underlined the ruling house’s commitment to adhering to both tradition and the legal framework. He further remarked that the court’s order for an accelerated hearing ensures that the issues will be addressed swiftly and transparently, reflecting the seriousness of the dispute.

Marshall’s suit challenges aspects of the Awujale succession process, including the alleged involvement of the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council, the alleged failure to publish the names of the 13 recognised kingmakers, and his purported disqualification by the Fusengbuwa Ruling House without fair hearing.

With the interim injunction declined, the Awujale succession process is not immediately restrained. All parties are expected to return to court on 14 January 2026 for the accelerated hearing of the substantive suit, where the legal issues surrounding the succession will be examined in full.