Police authorities in Ogun State have invited kingmakers involved in the selection of the new Awujale of Ijebuland for questioning over serious allegations of bribery and financial inducement surrounding the vacant traditional throne.
Sources indicate that certain kingmakers are accused of accepting monetary payments to influence the process, effectively auctioning the revered paramount stool to the highest bidder among aspiring candidates.
A formal invitation letter, dated February 3, 2025, and signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Gbenga Adeoye, who heads the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), directs the summoned individuals to report to the department in Abeokuta on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. for interrogation.
The police cited their authority under Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 4(a) of the Police Act 2020.
The letter describes the summons as a "fact-finding invitation" intended to support the administration of criminal justice and ensure fairness. It adds that those invited may bring legal representation.
While specific names of those summoned were not disclosed in the letter, reports suggest that additional kingmakers and figures connected to the Awujale succession could face questioning as the probe continues.
Confirming the development on Wednesday, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, told journalists via WhatsApp call: "Yes, it is true."
The Awujale stool became vacant following the death of the late Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona on July 13, 2025, after a 65-year reign.
Since then, the succession process has been marked by intense lobbying, behind-the-scenes maneuvering, and repeated interventions by the Ogun State Government, which has suspended the exercise twice first in December 2025 and again in January 2026, citing procedural issues, numerous petitions, and security concerns.
Public calls for transparency and strict adherence to traditional customs and legal protocols have intensified amid rumors of corruption, with some residents protesting against perceived attempts to commercialize the sacred position.
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