Fusengbuwa ruling house vice chairman sues 11 over defamation, demands N10bn damages
Ijebu-Ode Ruling House Vice Chairman Sues Over Alleged Defamation
Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State – Professor Fassy Yusuf, Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, has filed a lawsuit against 11 individuals from an alleged breakaway faction, seeking 10 billion naira in damages for defamation and reputational harm.
In his legal action, Prof. Yusuf also requests injunctive relief, asserting that a defamatory report was published and circulated about him. The dispute centers on a document titled “Report of the Fusengbuwa Fact-Finding Committee,” dated August 9, 2026.
The case, designated as HCJ/153/2026, was initiated on August 24, 2026, in the Ogun State High Court, Ijebu-Ode Judicial Division. The defendants named in the suit include Pa Olusegun Olusoga, Mr. Ridwan Odunrye, Muyiwa Adeleye, Alhaji Taiwo Ajumo, Mr. Sikiru Adegunwa, Hon. Kehinde Lawal, Mr. Logunleko Oludare, Prince Abdul Onalaja, Mr. Ashiru Mufutau, Prince Osiyemi Johnson, and Prince Adeleke Adeyemi.
Prof. Yusuf, who is both a university lecturer and legal practitioner, is also seeking 5 million naira to cover the costs of the legal proceedings. He requests the court to impose a perpetual injunction preventing the defendants from further disseminating defamatory materials regarding him.
In his statement of claim, Yusuf demands that the court enforce a “full, unequivocal and unconditional retraction and unreserved apology” be published in national newspapers, on social media, and on other platforms where the alleged defamatory statements were shared.
Prof. Yusuf’s claims include a declaration that the allegations stemming from the report, particularly those related to financial inducement, bribery, and document manipulation, are false and severely damaging to his reputation. He further asserts that the Fusengbuwa Fact-Finding Committee, which produced the report, was improperly constituted and lacked the authority to investigate or adjudicate matters concerning him, rendering its findings invalid.
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House is one of the prominent ruling houses in Ijebu-Ode and is poised to produce the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland. Following the passing of the late Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona, on July 13, 2025, at the age of 91, the Ogun State Government has temporarily halted the selection process for his successor due to escalating tensions and security concerns within the community.
