KWAM1 Finally Goes to Court — Awujale Throne Battle Heads to the High Court as Hearing Set for 22/12/2025

In what has suddenly become one of the most dramatic twists in the long-running tussle over the Awujale of Ijebuland succession, Fuji music legend Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, has dragged the Ogun State Government and key traditional authorities before the High Court in Ijebu-Ode. The legal battle, which has divided opinion across southwest Nigeria, is set for a hearing on Monday, 22 December 2025, promising months—or possibly years—of courtroom drama that could delay the coronation of a new Awujale.

Sources confirm that KWAM 1 filed an interlocutory application and substantive suit at the Ogun State High Court on 16 December 2025, naming Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Ijebu-Ode Local Government Chairman, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Secretary of Ijebu-Ode LGA, the Chairman of the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council, and the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House as respondents.

In the motion ex parte, KWAM 1 is seeking an interim injunction to restrain all respondents from taking further steps in the process of nominating and installing the next Awujale pending the determination of his main lawsuit. His lawyers argue that without legal intervention, any move to select or install a new monarch could render his legal case meaningless and undermine the rule of law.

The stakes in this case are enormous, both culturally and politically. The Awujale of Ijebuland is one of the most respected traditional titles in Nigeria, with deep historical significance. The stool became vacant earlier in 2025 following the death of the late Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who reigned for over 65 years, making the succession process an emotionally charged matter for Ijebuland communities.

At the heart of the legal struggle lies a bitter dispute over royal lineage and eligibility. KWAM 1 insists that he has a legitimate claim to the stool, anchoring his bid on alleged royal ancestry linked to the Jadiara Royal House—a unit within the broader Fusengbuwa Ruling House, which is widely seen as next in line under traditional rotation rules.

However, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House has publicly rejected KWAM 1’s lineage claim, describing the documentation he submitted as “null, void and of no consequence.” The ruling house has maintained that KWAM 1 does not belong to the Fusengbuwa lineage, citing irregularities in his submission, including issues with how the form was endorsed and certified.

This rejection has stoked controversy, with factions within Ijebuland questioning whether a prominent figure like KWAM 1 should be disqualified on technical grounds—and whether the traditional processes are being applied fairly. Social media has been ablaze with commentary, debates, and conflicting interpretations of both culture and law, reflecting how this case has captured public imagination beyond the palace walls.

The legal filing specifically invokes Order 38 Rule 4 and Order 39 Rule 1 of the Ogun State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2024, as well as Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees fair hearing, and the inherent jurisdiction of the court to preserve justice. In seeking an interim injunction, KWAM 1’s legal team is essentially asking the court to put a legal pause on any actions that could advance the succession process until the substantive issues are resolved.

Adding complexity to the matter is the broader succession process itself. The Ogun State Government recently halted the nomination exercise and ordered it to restart, citing procedural lapses that could expose the process to legal challenges. This decision has only heightened tensions, with some traditionalists insisting that the government must strictly adhere to all chieftaincy laws and declarations, while others argue that such delays create space for litigation that could paralyse the entire process.

Amid all this, another twist emerged when the Fidipote Ruling House—the family with which KWAM 1 is closely associated and through which he holds the title Olori Omooba of Ijebuland—asserted that the Fusengbuwa Ruling House missed a deadline to present candidates, potentially opening the door for Fidipote to be recognised as entitled to present candidates for the vacant stool. This move adds yet another layer to a succession process already fraught with competing legal and traditional claims.

What is clear is that the courtroom will now be the centre stage for what has been a heated cultural debate. Legal experts familiar with chieftaincy disputes note that such cases can be protracted. Court cases over traditional titles in Nigeria can take years to resolve, often winding through interlocutory applications, appeals, and extended hearings, especially when constitutional rights and customary practices intersect. Given the complex mix of tradition, law, and public sentiment, it is quite possible that Ijebu may not have a new Awujale for a long time to come.

Supporters of KWAM 1 argue that his pursuit of justice is about protecting his rights as a citizen and a potential claimant, insisting that no one should be shut out of a process without proper legal examination. Critics, however, contend that his actions risk undermining established traditional protocols and could fuel further uncertainty in Ijebuland’s age-old institutions.

The hearing scheduled for 22 December 2025 will be closely watched by legal practitioners, traditional chiefs, royal families, and ordinary Nigerians. It is expected that the court will first consider whether to grant the interim injunction, which could pause all succession activities pending full trial. Should the court grant the injunction, the entire Awujale selection process could effectively be put on hold, sending stakeholders back to legal argument rather than palace deliberations.

With emotions high and interests deeply entrenched, this case promises to be one of the most talked-about legal and cultural sagas in recent Nigerian history. What unfolds next in the courtroom in Ijebu-Ode may well shape not just the future of the Awujale stool, but also how traditional succession disputes are handled in an era where modern law and longstanding customs both seek room at the table.