Awujale: KWAM1 withdrew case to fine-tune legal strategy, says Lawyer

The lawyer to popular Fuji musician, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, fondly called KWAM 1, Dr Wahab Shittu (SAN), has said the withdrawal of the suit challenging the selection process of the next Awujale of Ijebuland was a tactical retreat to allow for further strategy.

Ayinde, in a notice of discontinuance dated December 22, 2025, and filed before the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode, informed the court of his decision not to pursue the suit and urged the court to strike it out.

However, speaking in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, Shittu clarified that the withdrawal of the suit does not amount to withdrawing from the race for the Awujale stool.

According to him, Ayinde remains actively involved in the process.

“Of course, it’s a tactical retreat to put our house in order and come back again,” Shittu said.

“It is not true that he has withdrawn from the race. He is still very much active in the race. But we need to take advantage of further particulars and information and then come back.”

The senior advocate explained that the legal team identified the need to take certain preliminary steps before proceeding further with the case.

“After the preliminary steps that we need to take, which we have started, it is not something we want to rush without putting those steps in place,” he said.

“We don’t want to fail. We need to strategise and put our house in order.”

Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu-Ode and the lawyer holding brief for the family, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, confirmed on Wednesday that the Fuji musician had withdrawn the suit filed against the state government and the ruling house over the selection process of the next Awujale.

According to Yusuf, Ayinde filed the notice of discontinuance on Monday, shortly after the court declined to grant him an interim injunction seeking to stop Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Fusengbuwa ruling house, and four others from taking further steps in the selection process.

“I can confirm that Wasiu Ayinde has filed a notice of discontinuance of the suit instituted against Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Fusengbuwa ruling house, the Awujale Interregnum Administration Committee, the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, and others. On Monday, his exparte motion came up for hearing, but unfortunately, the presiding judge, Justice A. A. Omoniyi, declined to grant the order of interim injunction seeking to stop the selection process of the Awujale.

“Perhaps, after due consultation with his legal counsel, he decided to withdraw the suit. The truth, however, is that the Fuji musician has filed for discontinuance of his suit against the government and our family. This application will be formally heard on January 14, which is the next adjourned date for the suit,” Yusuf said.

Ayinde had earlier shown interest in the vacant Awujale stool, linking his lineage to the Jadiara Royal House of the wider Fusengbuwa Ruling House.

However, the Fusengbuwa ruling house rejected the claim, asserting that Wasiu Ayinde is not from the royal house.

The musician is commonly believed to be from the Fidipote ruling house of Ijebu-Ode, which he has referenced in his music.

To address the perceived injustice, Ayinde had dragged the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Governor Abiodun, as well as the chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, and three others before the court.

He sought an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from taking any steps in the selection and installation process of the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

Others joined in the suit include the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat; the Secretary, Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Oke Adebanjo; and the Chairman of the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council, Dr. Olorogun Sunny Kuku.

The suit, with number HC3/238/2025, was contained in a court document dated December 16, 2025, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent.

The musician had stated that the exparte motion was brought pursuant to Order 38 Rules 4 and Order 39 Rule 1 of the High Court of Ogun State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2024, Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

He urged the court to restrain all respondents from further action on the selection process pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

However, in ruling on the application for the interim injunction on Monday, Justice A. A. Omoniyi held that the application lacked merit, stating that there was no strong reason to grant the injunction.

He thereafter ordered an expeditious hearing of the substantive matter and fixed January 14, 2026, for proceedings.(Punch)