The International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) has announced plans to initiate legal action against the Ogun State Government and the family of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, over what it describes as a breach of established legal and cultural protocols regarding the burial of traditional rulers in the state.
The late monarch, who passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91, was buried in accordance with Islamic rites—a decision that has sparked significant controversy among traditional institutions and cultural advocates.
During a press conference held on Saturday, the President of the ICIR, Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, along with the Council’s legal representative, Barrister Ifasola Opeodu, condemned the burial process, insisting it disregarded both Yoruba traditions and existing judicial rulings that mandate the observance of traditional rites for deceased kings.
Dr. Fakayode referenced a judicial precedent that emphasized the legal requirement to uphold Yoruba customs in the burial of traditional rulers. He lamented the perceived abandonment of these traditions in favor of foreign religious practices such as Islam and Christianity.
He particularly commended the Osugbo Confraternity—traditionally responsible for performing the final rites of passage for the Awujale—for their peaceful demeanor and maturity in the face of being prevented from carrying out their duties.
According to Fakayode, “The decision by the State to proceed with Islamic burial rites for Oba Adetona contravenes Part 8, Section 55, Sub-section II of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law. The law is clear, and any action contrary to it constitutes a disregard for the heritage and customs that define the Yoruba identity.”
He praised the restraint exhibited by the Osugbo Confraternity as an embodiment of the teachings of Òrúnmìlà, noting, “The gentleness of a lion is not weakness, but a sign of wisdom and strength—as expressed in the proverb, ‘Yíyọ́ ẹkùn; tojo kọ́’.”
The ICIR President further warned that the situation extends beyond the burial rites of one king and should be seen as an attempt to erode the foundational cultural practices of the Yoruba people. He urged indigenes of Ijebu-Ode and the wider Yoruba nation to recognize the sacredness of the Obaship institution and the importance of respecting traditional customs.
“We condemn the clear disrespect shown to the Osugbo Confraternity by the late Oba’s family, state officials, and the security agencies present,” Fakayode stated. “To ensure such a situation does not reoccur, we will pursue all necessary legal actions.”
Backing these assertions, Barrister Opeodu criticized the conduct of both government representatives and the Islamic clergy, led by the Chief Imam of Ijebu-Ode, for what he described as a flagrant disregard for local laws.
He stated, “The actions of the late monarch’s family, the Ogun State Government, and the law enforcement agents involved not only violate traditional laws but also threaten the principles of democracy and the fundamental rights of traditional worshippers to practice their beliefs.”
Opeodu went on to describe the situation as a dangerous deviation from lawful governance, stating, “This disregard for the extant laws on the installation and burial of Obas and Chiefs paves the way for anarchy. The traditional institution is bound by law, unlike what we see in the enforcement of foreign religious practices.”
He affirmed that the ICIR and other traditional bodies would pursue legal redress to protect the sanctity of Yoruba cultural practices and uphold the legal framework that governs traditional rulership in the region.
