Ogun Police Invite Olori-Ebis, Afobajes Over Awujale Succession Crisis
By Gbenga Adebamiwa
The Ogun State Police Command has invited prominent members of the Awujale of Ijebuland Interregnum Committee, including senior Olori-Ebis and Afobajes, for questioning over allegations of bribery and financial inducement linked to the ongoing Awujale succession crisis.
According to official invitation letters issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, and sighted by our correspondent, the invitees are required to report at the State CID headquarters on Thursday, 5 February 2026, at 10:00 a.m. for fact-finding interviews.
The letters state that the invitations are issued pursuant to the investigative powers conferred on the Nigeria Police Force under Section 214 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Section 4(a) of the Police Act 2020. The invitees are also informed of their right to be accompanied by legal counsel.
The development marks a significant escalation in the protracted Awujale succession dispute, which has generated heightened tension among stakeholders in Ijebuland.
The Interregnum Committee, alongside the Olori-Ebis and Afobajes, plays a central role in the customary framework guiding the selection of a new Awujale, making the police intervention particularly consequential.
While the Ogun State Police Command has not disclosed specific details of the allegations under investigation, sources familiar with the matter indicate that the inquiry relates to claims of financial inducement allegedly intended to influence decisions within the succession process.
No arrests or formal charges have been announced, and the police have emphasized that the invitations are investigative in nature and do not imply guilt.
The Awujale stool remains one of Nigeria’s most revered traditional institutions, with deep historical influence over governance, commerce, and social cohesion in Ijebuland.
Analysts note that the unfolding investigation could play a critical role in restoring transparency, credibility, and public confidence in the succession process.
The Ogun State Police have urged calm and restraint, reiterating their commitment to impartiality, due process, and the rule of law, as Ijebuland and the wider public continue to closely monitor developments surrounding the inquiry.
