Justice A. A. Omoniyi of the Ogun State High Court, sitting in Ijebu-Ode, has warned parties in the legal battle over the succession to the Awujale stool against taking any action that could undermine the court process or alter the status quo in the matter.

The warning followed a request by counsel to the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Otunba Olusegun Otayemi, that the court restrain both sides from taking any step that could tamper with the existing situation pending the determination of the suit.

Otayemi, while addressing the court, urged Justice Omoniyi to make an order restraining the parties from doing anything capable of affecting the status quo while the case was pending.

Responding, Justice Omoniyi indicated that there was no basis at that stage for the court to assume that either party would take such action, but made it clear that anyone who proceeded against the court’s directives would be stopped and required to return to the position they were in.

The judge’s position effectively put the parties on notice that the court would not tolerate any attempt to alter the circumstances surrounding the disputed succession process while the matter remained before it.

Counsel representing the kingmakers, Asiwaju Kunle Kalejaiye, SAN, also cautioned against any action that could amount to disobedience of an injunction, referring to the legal consequences that may follow such conduct.

Kalejaiye cited the principle arising from the case of Ojukwu v. Governor of Lagos State, noting that parties are expected to respect the court process and should not act in a manner contrary to an injunction, even where a formal temporary injunction had not yet been drawn up.

The legal development is part of the continuing dispute over the process for selecting a successor to the late Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who died in July 2025 at the age of 91 after a 65-year reign.

The Fusengbuwa Ruling House subsequently approached the Ogun State High Court, challenging what it described as the stoppage of the succession process after the ruling house had completed its internal nomination exercise.

The ruling house contends that it had fulfilled its statutory responsibility by convening its meeting and completing its nomination within the period prescribed by law.

The selection process, which produced 95 aspirants comprising 94 princes and one princess, was subsequently halted by the Ogun State Government.

The government had earlier suspended the process in December 2025 over what it described as procedural concerns and later stopped further proceedings in January 2026, citing petitions from security agencies and other stakeholders.

The Fusengbuwa Ruling House is seeking, among other reliefs, a determination of whether the government had the legal authority to halt or interfere with the selection process and whether the provisions of the Ogun State Obas and Chiefs Law 2021 permit the government to stop the nomination and selection process under any guise.

The suit, filed on August 21, 2026, also seeks orders compelling the completion of the process for the selection of the next Awujale.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, Justice Omoniyi, who is due to proceed on annual vacation, returned the case file to the administrative judge for reassignment.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to September 23, 2026, for mention.