Culture vs religion: Ifa Council threatens legal action over Awujale’s Islamic burial

The International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) has said it may take legal action against the Ogun State Government and the family of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. The council claims that the way the king was buried did not follow Yoruba traditional customs.

Oba Adetona died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91. He was buried according to Islamic rites, but the ICIR says this goes against Yoruba culture and the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, which outlines how traditional rulers should be buried.

At a press conference in Ibadan, the ICIR president, Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, represented by the group’s spokesman, Mr. Ayanladun Fajemisin, and their lawyer, Barrister Ifasola Opeodu, expressed disappointment with how the burial was handled.

Fakayode said a court ruling made during the late king’s lifetime supported traditional burial customs for Yoruba rulers. He explained that the burial violated Part 8, Section 55, Sub-section ii of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law.

He praised the Osugbo Confraternity of Ijebu-Ode for staying calm even though they were not allowed to carry out their traditional roles during the burial. According to him, this situation is not just about a funeral but about the preservation of Yoruba culture and identity. He warned that ignoring tradition could have serious consequences.

The group called on all Yoruba people, especially those from Ijebu-Ode, to protect and respect their traditions and the institution of kingship.

Barrister Opeodu added that the way the state government, the king’s family, and security forces handled the burial was a violation of the law and a threat to democratic and religious freedom. He criticized the Chief Imam of Ijebu-Ode and Islamic clerics for leading the burial, calling their actions unlawful under the state’s traditional laws.

He also stressed that traditional institutions are legally recognized and must be respected. The ICIR said it would take legal steps to make sure such actions do not happen again in the future.

The council concluded by reaffirming its commitment to defending Yoruba traditions and customs.