Fuji music icon, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM 1), has officially withdrawn from the contest for the Awujale of Ijebuland, bringing an end to his legal challenge against the ongoing selection process for the revered traditional stool.
KWAM 1 filed a notice of discontinuation at the Ogun State High Court on Monday, December 22, 2025, formally stepping away from both the throne race and the suit he instituted to halt the process.
The notice was submitted by his legal team led by Dr Wahab Shittu, SAN, effectively closing a case that had generated widespread public interest and intense debate within Ijebu traditional circles.
The withdrawal followed a ruling by Justice A. A. Omoniyi of High Court 3, Ijebu-Ode Judicial Division, who dismissed KWAM 1’s application for an interim injunction seeking to restrain Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, and other parties from proceeding with the selection of a new Awujale.
Justice Omoniyi held that the application lacked merit but allowed the substantive suit to continue, fixing January 14, 2026, for further hearing. Despite the court’s decision to keep the main suit alive, KWAM 1 opted to discontinue the case entirely.
The Fuji legend, who holds the traditional title of Olori Omooba of Ijebuland and traces his lineage to the Fidipote Ruling House, had approached the court after the Fusengbuwa Ruling House declared him ineligible to contest for the Awujale stool.
According to the ruling house, KWAM 1 is not a bona fide member of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House and therefore could not contest for the throne under its platform.
The declaration sparked controversy, given KWAM 1’s stature as one of Nigeria’s most celebrated musicians and a prominent figure in Ijebu cultural life.
With the filing of the notice of discontinuation, the Fuji icon has effectively ended his ambition to ascend the Awujale stool through legal means.
The Awujale of Ijebuland remains one of the most influential traditional institutions in Yorubaland, and the selection of a new monarch continues to attract keen attention across Ogun State and beyond.
