The Fusengbuwa Ruling House has defended its initial decision to set the application fee for the Awujale of Ijebuland stool at ₦10 million, explaining that the amount was determined through internal consultations to ensure fairness among eligible family members.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday, Olori Ebi of the ruling house, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, said the fee was meant solely to cover administrative and logistical expenses, not for personal gain.
He noted that initial proposals ranged as high as ₦100 million but were eventually reduced to ₦10 million after deliberations. Twelve candidates had applied and paid the fee.
Owoyemi confirmed that following a directive from the Ogun State Government, all fees were refunded within three days, and evidence of the refunds was submitted to relevant officials, including the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and the Secretary to the State Government.
“The government advised that what we had charged was not fair to everyone, so we refunded all payments and opened the application process to all eligible family members free of charge,” Owoyemi said.
He dismissed claims that the throne was being commercialised, emphasizing that the money was used collectively for organising the nomination process.
He added that reforms in the selection process now ensure broader family participation, replacing the old system where elders alone chose the monarch.
The Awujale succession process has been uncertain since the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona on July 13, 2025.
Disputes over eligibility and procedure prompted the Ogun State Government to suspend the process in January 2026.
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