The International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) has announced plans to take legal action against the Ogun State Government and the family of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, over what it described as a breach of traditional burial rites.
Oba Adetona, who passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91, was buried the following day according to Islamic rites. However, the ICIR insists that the burial violated the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, which outlines traditional procedures for the burial of monarchs.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, ICIR President Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode and legal counsel Barr. Ifasola Opeodu condemned the move as a deviation from Yoruba customs and a violation of established legal provisions.
Fakayode cited Part 8, Section 55, Sub-section II of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, which mandates adherence to Yoruba traditional customs in the burial of Obas. He applauded the Osugbo Confraternity, traditionally responsible for the final rites, for maintaining peace despite being barred from fulfilling their duties.
“The burial was not in consonance with the law of the state,” Fakayode said. “It is obvious that the arrangement contravened the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law. Any actions contrary to this judgment and the laws of the land would be a disregard for the customs and traditions that have been the cornerstone of our heritage.”
He warned that the situation extended beyond a single event, describing it as part of a broader attempt to undermine indigenous practices. “We urge the sons and daughters of Ijebu-Ode and the entire Yoruba race to recognise that the institution of Obaship is not only a sacred tradition but also a choice that demands respect for our cultural heritage.”
Barrister Opeodu echoed the council’s discontent, stating that the actions of the monarch’s family, state officials, and religious leaders were not only unlawful but also an infringement on the rights of traditional worshippers.
“This is an aberration to the extant law regarding the installation and burial of Obas and Chiefs, leading to a state of anarchy,” Opeodu stated. He criticised the role played by Islamic clerics in the burial, calling it a violation of state law and a disregard for traditional institutions.
Both the council and its legal representatives stressed that legal proceedings would be initiated to challenge what they described as cultural injustice and to safeguard the future of Yoruba traditions.
