The Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode, Professor Fassy Adetokunbo Yusuf, has filed a N10bn defamation suit against 11 family members before an Ogun State High Court in Ijebu-Ode.
Yusuf, in the suit marked HC3/153/9 and dated August 21, 2026, obtained by Tribune Online, is seeking an order compelling the defendants to retract the alleged defamatory statements and tender an ‘unreserved apology’ to him in The Nigerian Tribune and The Punch newspapers, as well as on other social media platforms where the report was published.
The Ijebu-Ode High Chief challenged allegations of financial inducement and bribery against him in a purported report of the Fusengbuwa Fact-Finding Committee on the selection process for the Awujale of Ijebuland.
The Associate Professor also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from further publishing, reproducing, circulating or disseminating the alleged defamatory statements.
The claimant asked for N5m as the cost of the action and also demanded that interest on the judgment sum be fixed at 21 per cent per annum from the date of judgment until final liquidation.
The 11 defendants are Pa Olusegun Olusoga; Mr Ridwan Oduneye; Muyiwa Adeleye; Alhaji Taiwo Ajumo; Mr Sikiru Adegunwa; Hon. Kehinde Lawal; Mr Logunleko Oludare; Prince Abdul Onalaja; Mr Ashiru Mufutau; Prince (Barr.) Osiyemi Johnson; and Prince Adeleke Adeyemi.
In his statement of claim accompanying the writ of summons, Yusuf said the defendants were involved in a body described as the ‘Fusengbuwa Fact-Finding Committee’, which purportedly investigated matters concerning the leadership and affairs of the ruling house.
He added that the purported committee was not constituted in accordance with the rules, customs and established procedures governing the affairs of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.
Yusuf averred that ‘on or about 9th August 2026, the Defendants caused, authorised, adopted, endorsed and/or participated in the publication and circulation of a document titled: ‘REPORT OF THE FUSENGBUWA FACT-FINDING COMMITTEE’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Report’). The Defendants are hereby put on notice to produce a copy of the said report at the trial.’
He alleged that statements published by the defendants concerning him included claims that ‘there was a manifest breakdown of unity, communication and cohesion among the Claimant and the other persons described as Olori-Ebi;
‘That he and the other persons had been involved in a process characterised by financial inducement, manipulation, irregularities and lack of due process;
‘That he had a preferred candidate in the Awujale selection process and that his position in the process was therefore compromised, among others’.
He, therefore, prayed the court for several declarations, including that the statements and allegations concerning him in the report dated August 9, 2026, particularly those alleging or imputing financial inducement, bribery, document manipulation, irregularities, neglect of duty and conduct warranting removal from office, are false, defamatory and injurious to his reputation.
He is also seeking a declaration that the publication and circulation of the alleged statements constitute actionable defamation.
The claimant is further asking the court to declare that the purported Fusengbuwa Fact-Finding Committee was unlawfully or improperly constituted and lacked lawful authority or mandate to investigate or make binding findings concerning him.
He wants the purported report declared ‘invalid, null and void and of no effect whatsoever’, as well as any decision, resolution, recommendation or act purportedly undertaken pursuant to the report.
Yusuf is also seeking ‘an order of this Honourable Court directing the Defendants to remove, delete and/or procure the removal of the defamatory publication and all reproductions thereof from websites, social media pages, print media and other digital platforms where the defamatory statements appeared.
‘An order of this Honourable Court compelling the Defendants to publish a full, unequivocal and unconditional retraction and an unreserved apology in: The Punch Newspaper, Nigerian Tribune Newspaper, and
‘All social media and print media platforms where the defamatory statements were published with prominence reasonably commensurate with the original publication.
‘An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, whether by themselves, their agents, privies, servants or otherwise howsoever, from further publishing, reproducing, circulating or disseminating the defamatory statements complained of herein or any words to the same or substantially similar effect concerning the Claimant.’
He is demanding N10bn in general damages for alleged defamation, reputational harm, emotional distress and loss of goodwill.
He is also seeking aggravated and/or exemplary damages ‘having regard to the reckless, malicious and persistent nature of the publication and its subsequent circulation’.
The claimant further put the cost of the action at N5m and asked for interest on the judgment sum at 21 per cent per annum from the date of judgment until final liquidation.