By Awujale’s Burial Rites
ICIR to sue Ogun government and late monarch’s family
Summary
- ICIR accuses Ogun State of violating Yoruba customs in Awujale’s burial
- Council calls Islamic rites for Oba Adetona an “abomination” and legal breach
- Legal action planned to challenge 2021 burial law and protect traditional values
Abeokuta, Nigeria — The International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) has declared its intention to sue the Ogun State Government and the family of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, over what it describes as a violation of traditional Yoruba burial rites.
The revered monarch, who died on 13 July 2025 at the age of 91, was laid to rest the following day at his private residence in Ijebu-Ode in accordance with Islamic rites, honouring his personal wishes and a 2021 state law that permits such.
However, the ICIR, led by President Dr Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode and legal counsel Barrister Ifasola Opeodu, has condemned the burial as an “anomaly” and “a slap on the traditional institution.”
During press briefings in Ijebu-Ode and Ibadan, the council cited Part 8, Section 55, Subsection ii of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, which they argue mandates that traditional rulers must be buried strictly according to Yoruba customs.
The council expressed particular dismay at the exclusion of the Osugbo Confraternity, traditionally responsible for performing royal burial rites, allegedly barred by security forces, including the Nigerian Army.
They also referenced a previous judicial ruling by Justice P.O. Akinside of the Ogun State Customary Court of Appeal, which, they claim, reinforces the cultural obligation of traditional rulers to uphold Yoruba burial practices.
The controversy has ignited wider debate over the clash between cultural heritage and individual religious freedom. The ICIR, alongside the Isese Worshippers of Ogun State and other traditionalist groups, view the Islamic burial as a dangerous precedent that threatens Yoruba identity. Critics also objected to the burial location, stating it should have taken place in Igbo Odu, the traditional sacred ground for Awujale interments.
On the other side, the Ogun State Government and Muslim organisations, such as the Ogun State Muslim Council, insist the burial was lawful and aligned with Oba Adetona’s personal beliefs. They point to the 2021 Ogun State Obas and Chiefs Law, which permits traditional rulers to choose religious rites over cultural ones.
The burial ceremony was attended by prominent figures including Governor Dapo Abiodun, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and business mogul Aliko Dangote, and was officiated by the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Sheikh Muftaudeen Ayanbadejo.
The ICIR has now formed a committee to engage with the state government on reviewing the chieftaincy and burial laws, signalling a potential legal battle that could reshape the future of royal funerals in Ogun State and beyond.
