ICIR to Sue Ogun Govt, Late Awujale’s Family Over Alleged Violation of Traditional Burial Rites

The International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) has declared its intention 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 traditional and legal procedures in the monarch’s burial.

Oba Adetona, who died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91, was buried according to Islamic rites. The ICIR, however, condemned the burial process as a deviation from established Yoruba customs, which traditionally govern the funeral rites of kings.

During a press briefing on Saturday, ICIR President Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, alongside the council’s legal representative, Barrister Ifasola Opeodu, criticized the burial as a violation of a court ruling mandating adherence to traditional practices over foreign religious customs such as Islam or Christianity when interring a monarch.

Fakayode referenced Part 8, Section 55, Sub-section II of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, stating that the enforcement of Islamic rites contravened the state’s legal provisions on the burial of traditional rulers. He praised the Osugbo Confraternity—the custodians of final traditional rites—for their peaceful demeanor, despite being prevented from carrying out their duties.

“This is not just about the burial of one king,” Fakayode said. “It is a challenge to the core of Yoruba heritage. Ignoring our customs is a direct affront to the cultural identity that defines our people.”

He condemned the actions of the late Oba’s family, government officials, and security personnel, who he alleged sidelined the Osugbo Confraternity during the burial process. “We commend the Osugbo for showing great restraint. Their patience is a reflection of wisdom, not weakness,” he noted.

Barrister Opeodu echoed these sentiments, stating that the conduct of the Ogun State Government and involved parties posed a serious threat to democracy and the constitutional rights of traditional religion adherents.

“The refusal to follow the traditional burial laws amounts to an assault on the religious freedoms of practitioners of indigenous faiths,” Opeodu asserted. “Such lawlessness, especially when led by religious figures, sets a dangerous precedent.”

Both ICIR leaders affirmed their commitment to legal redress, vowing to ensure that Yoruba traditions are respected and preserved in future instances involving the rites of traditional rulers.