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Awujale Succession: Court Battle Begins Over Ruling House Leadership Crisis

Published

2 months ago

September 18, 2025

Three royal families of Adeberu, Olufadi and Ayora/Tunwase of Fusengbuwa ruling house, Ile Nla, Agunsebi, Ijebu Ode have dragged the Ogun State Government, the former National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, Dr Kunle Hassan, the founder of Eye Foundation Hospital and two others before an Ogun State High Court sitting at Ijebu Ode over the leadership crisis rocking the ruling house.

According to the court filings dated September 17 and made available to journalists on Thursday, the representatives of the three royal families, Adedokun Ajidagba, Adeleke Adeyemi and Ademola Sonaya, specifically urged the court to stop Owoyemi from parading himself as the head (Olori Ebi) of the Fusengbuwa ruling house.

The Fusengbuwa ruling house is the next to produce the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebu land after the demise of 91-year-old Oba Sikiru Adetona on July 13, after reigning for 65 years.

Adedokun, according to the documents filed before the court, asserted that Owoyemi has no ancestral link to the Ile-Nla compound in Agunsebi, the historic family house of Fusengbuwa.

He listed the ruling house’s eight recognised branches as Olufadi, Ayora/Tunwase, Shenowo, Okuyandewo, Oshinuga, Adekenu, Adebiyi, and Adeberu.

The oil and gas businessman further claimed that Owoyemi hails from Ikoro-Ekiti and not Ijebu-Ode, a position he affirmed was corroborated by the late Awujale of Ijebuland, during a court proceeding at Ijebu-Ode in 2018.

Adedokun said his appointment as Olori-Ebi of Fusengbuwa was ratified on November 23, 2023, with official notification sent to the Ogun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and to the late Adetona.

He declared that he remains the authentic head of the Fusengbuwa ruling house and that the court should accede to the request of the three royal families and stop Owoyemi from parading himself henceforth as the head of the ruling house.

The court is, however, yet to fix a date for the hearing of the suit

Recall that the former ICAN President had insisted that he remains the legitimate head of the Fusengbuwa ruling house by virtue of the Ibadan Court of Appeal judgement of 2024, which ruled in his favour and confirmed the fact that he had been the ruling house head appointed since 2013 after the death of Prince Fasasi Adeyemi

He stated that in 2011, he was appointed as the Deputy to the then head of the family, Adeyemi and by 2013, he was appointed as the Olori Ebi after the death of Adeyemi.

Owoyemi explained that after his appointment as the Olori Ebi of Fusengbuwa in March 2013, a splinter group had also appointed the late billionaire banker and founder of First City Monument Bank, Otunba Subomi Balogun, as the head of the same family.

He disclosed that he had challenged this anomaly at a High Court sitting at Ijebu Ode and that while giving his judgment in 2018, Justice Asenuga resolved two of the issues brought before the court in his favour but failed to declare him as the Olori Ebi of Fusengbuwa.

Owoyemi explained, “I approached the Court of Appeal sitting at Ibadan and on November 28, 2024, in a judgment delivered by Justice Binta Fatima Zubairu, resolved all seven issues brought before the court in my favour.”

In a Certified True Copy of the judgment, which was made available to journalists, the three Justices of the Court of Appeal agreed that the defendants failed to prove the allegation of fraud upon which the High Court of Ijebu Ode in 2018 had failed to recognise Owoyemi as the duly appointed head of the ruling family.

He said that according to a letter dated November 22, 2023 and sent to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogun State, Ajidagba was appointed as the acting head of the ruling house pending the determination of the suit he filed against the 2018 court judgment.

Owoyemi disclosed, “As the Almighty God will have it, the Appeal Court upheld all my pleas, affirming my leadership of the ruling house since 2013.”

He revealed further that having been confronted with this immutable truth as dispensed by the Ibadan Court of Appeal, the other part of the ruling house, being led formerly by the renowned Ophthalmologist and founder of Eye Foundation Hospital, Dr Kunle Hassan after dialogue submitted to the decision of the court on Sunday, August 31, 2025, affirming his leadership of the ruling house.

The renowned accountant said that even the late Awujale, before his demise, called him back to the palace in February 2025 to mend fences with him, urging him to keep in touch constantly as one of the senior title holders in his government and a trusted ally.

He added that he remains a bonafide son of Ijebu land from Idowa Ijebu and that past attempts to distort history had been quashed by the November 2024 Ibadan Court of Appeal judgement

The Octogenarian urged every member of the ruling house to shun division, strife and avarice but cooperate with the leadership of the family for a rancour-free selection process for the next Awujale.

News

FULL LIST: Nigerian Navy Redeploys 65 Rear Admirals

Published

3 hours ago

November 3, 2025

Editor

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has approved the appointment and redeployment of 65 Rear Admirals to various commands, institutions, and departments within the Nigerian Navy and the Armed Forces.

A statement on Monday by the Director of Information, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, said the postings affect officers at the Naval Headquarters, Defence Headquarters, Tri-Service Institutions, Naval Commands, and naval subsidiaries.

According to The PUNCH, the redeployments follow Abbas’ assumption of office as the 23rd indigenous Chief of the Naval Staff on Thursday.

The Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force had earlier carried out their redeployments on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

Among the officers redeployed by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Suleiman Abdullahi moves from the Defence Headquarters to Naval Headquarters as Chief of Logistics.

Adams-Aliu added that Rear Admiral Kasim Bushi moves from the Naval Training Command to the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria as Executive Director, while Rear Admiral Suleiman Dahun was appointed Director of Defence Cooperation at the Defence Headquarters.

He noted that Rear Admiral Anenechukwu Ezenma has been posted to the Defence Headquarters as Director, Lessons Learnt; Rear Admiral Samuel Ngatuwa becomes Director of Project Management; and Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu remains Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Dockyard Limited.

“Also listed was Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, previously at Naval Headquarters but now appointed Commandant, National Defence College. Others are Rear Admiral Musa Katagum, formerly at Defence Headquarters, now appointed to Naval Headquarters as Chief of Operations; Rear Admiral Fredrick Damtong, appointed Chief of Naval Engineering at Naval Headquarters; Rear Admiral Abdul-Rasheed Haruna, formerly at Defence Headquarters, appointed Chief of Training at Naval Headquarters; Rear Admiral Hamza Ibrahim, appointed Group Managing Director, Navy Holdings Limited; Rear Admiral Sunday Oyegade, who will proceed to the Defence Intelligence Agency as Director of Logistics; Rear Admiral Gideon Kachim, who will move to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Administration; Rear Admiral Saburi Lawal, reappointed to Navy Holdings Limited as Executive Director, Business Development and Evaluation; and Rear Admiral Jonathan Mamman, formerly at Defence Headquarters, appointed to Naval Headquarters as Chief of Administration,” the statement added.

He said Rear Admiral Kehinde Odubanjo becomes Director General of the Defence Research and Development Bureau; Rear Admiral John Okeke is now Chief of Defence Civil-Military Cooperation; and Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye is appointed Chief of Defence Training at the Defence Headquarters.

The redeployment also affects officers posted to naval subsidiaries and commercial entities.

Rear Admiral Peter Zakaria was appointed Executive Director, Administration and Human Resources, Navy Holdings Limited, while Rear Admiral Olufemi Adeleke became Director of Cyber Security at the Defence Space Agency.

“Rear Admiral Abiodun Alade is now Flag Officer Commanding Logistics Command, and Rear Admiral Pakiribo Anabraba becomes Chief of Naval Safety and Standard. Rear Admiral Emmanuel Anakwe proceeds to the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies as Moderator, while Rear Admiral Abdul-Hamid Baba-Inna takes over as Navy Secretary.

“Assignments to the Naval Commands include Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha as Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command; Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie as Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command; and Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim as Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command.

“Rear Admiral Musiu Yussuff becomes Director of Marine Engineering; Rear Admiral Kolawole Oguntuga becomes Director of Manning at Naval Headquarters; while Rear Admiral Mohammed Muye has been appointed Commandant of the Naval War College,” the statement added.

Commodore Adams-Aliu said the postings take immediate effect

News

Firm Secures $50bn Funding For Ondo Refinery, Free Trade Zone Project

Published

3 hours ago

November 3, 2025

Editor

Backbone Infrastructure Ltd has secured funding commitments exceeding $50 billion for the development of a 500,000 barrels-per-day refinery and the Sunshine Free Trade Zone in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The funding was facilitated through a joint venture agreement between BINL and NEFEX Holdings Limited of Canada, marking one of the largest single private sector investment packages targeted at Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas industry.

According to a statement issued by the company on Monday, the investment follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between BINL and the Ondo State Government, through the Ondo State Investment Promotion Agency, in July.

The company said the project is expected to transform the state into a key refining and export hub in the Niger Delta corridor.

The statement read, “Following the successful execution of the Memorandum of Understanding between Backbone Infrastructure Ltd and the Ondo State Government, through the Ondo State Investment Promotion Agency, for the construction of a 500,000 barrels-per-day refinery and the development of a 1,471-hectare Sunshine Free Trade Zone in the Ilaje area of Ondo State in July, Backbone has secured project funding exceeding $50bnfor both projects through a joint venture agreement with its partner, NEFEX Holdings Limited of Canada.”

The statement added that a team from BINL, led by its Chairman and former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, is scheduled to visit Akure on Monday for meetings with state government officials and a courtesy visit to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The visit will also include site inspections, stakeholder engagements, and consultations with host communities, including a royal audience with the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Obateru Akinrutan.

According to BINL’s Vice President for Corporate Services, Wale Adekola, the partnership with NEFEX Petroline, an engineering, construction, and energy infrastructure firm with operations across North America, Europe, and the Middle East, will fast-track the technical and financial groundwork needed to commence construction.

Their speciality also includes port and infrastructure development, petrochemical trading and supply, investment, and project management.

“With operations across the Middle East, Europe, North America, and beyond, NEFEX Petroline combines the advantages of a global network with deep local understanding. The firm maintains partnerships with leading global financial institutions to secure multi-currency credit lines and liquidity support for large-scale operations,” Adekola said.

‘’Our partnership with NEFEX opens the next chapter for the commencement of BINL Refinery development, ‘’ the BINL executive added.

He added that the BINL-NEFEX partnership represents “the next chapter” in the company’s refinery development efforts, with plans to also collaborate with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to ensure seamless integration into Nigeria’s oil value chain.

The refinery, upon completion, is expected to meet local demand for petroleum products, provide feedstock to industries, and export refined products to international markets. It will also include storage facilities, loading bays, terminals, and a network of internal roads, according to the project brief.

Similarly, the 1,471-hectare Sunshine Free Trade Zone will host industrial clusters, logistics facilities, and residential zones, positioning Ondo State as an emerging industrial hub in Southwest Nigeria.

The $50bn project could significantly reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined fuel, conserve foreign exchange, and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

It also aligns with the Federal Government’s push to attract private capital into critical infrastructure, especially as the country seeks to replicate the Dangote Refinery model and expand its refining capacity.

BINL, which operates offices in Abuja, London, and Zug, Switzerland, said its corporate social responsibility framework will focus on education, skills development, and infrastructure projects in host communities.

Adekola commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for his “visionary leadership” and commitment to attracting credible investors.

“We commend the governor for opening the state to genuine partnerships and creating the right environment for both local and international investors to thrive,” he said.

The refinery and free zone project, expected to span several phases, could redefine the economic landscape of Ondo State, making it a key energy and industrial hub in Nigeria’s South-West region.

News

VIDEO: Pastor Adefarasin Reacts To US Genocide Claims In Nigeria

Published

3 hours ago

November 3, 2025

Editor

The Senior Pastor of Guiding Light Assembly, Pastor Wale Adefarasin, has questioned the United States’ sudden show of concern for Christians in Nigeria following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments about alleged religious persecution in the country.

Speaking in a video which started trending on Monday, Adefarasin said the killings of Christians in parts of northern Nigeria were not new and should not be exaggerated as genocide.

He said, “For 40 years that I have been a Christian, there have been killings in southern Kaduna, killings on the plateau, there have been riots.

“Sometimes, I think it was in France, an image of Prophet Muhammad was defaced. Who remembers that? And as a result of that, there were killings of Christians in Nigeria.”

According to him, the West’s portrayal of the situation as if Christians in Nigeria are under constant attack is misleading.

“And so, it’s nothing new. It doesn’t amount to genocide. The way the West are talking about it, it’s as if if a Christian steps on the street, his head will be blown off,” he added.

The pastor went on to question the motives behind the United States’ growing interest in Nigeria’s internal affairs.

“I’m trying to understand this sudden love for Christians. Is it because we now have one of the largest refineries in the world, and no longer have to ship raw materials abroad and bring the finished products?

“Or is it because of the 21st century minerals that we now have in our earth, that are used to generate nuclear power for electric vehicles? Are those the reasons that our friends are threatening to invade our country to defend and protect Nigerian Christians?” he asked.

His comments come amid a wave of reactions from Nigerian leaders, clerics, and civil society groups following Trump’s threat of possible U.S. military action in Nigeria over the alleged killing of Christians.

Watch the video below:

𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎: 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰, 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐒 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚
The Senior Pastor of Guiding Light Assembly, Pastor Wale Adefarasin, has questioned the United States’ sudden show of concern… pic.twitter.com/vvEtwrrIzY
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) November 3, 2025
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