The International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) has announced its intention to take legal action against the Ogun State Government and the family of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, over what it claims was a gross violation of Yoruba traditional burial customs.
The late monarch, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91, was buried in accordance with Islamic rites, a decision that has sparked outrage among traditional religious groups. The ICIR has condemned this action, calling it an illegal and culturally offensive deviation from the protocols expected for the burial of a Yoruba king.
During a press conference held on Saturday, the President of the ICIR, Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, accompanied by the council’s legal representative, Barrister Ifasola Opeodu, expressed deep disappointment with both the state government and the royal family. They accused both parties of ignoring well-established legal and spiritual obligations required for the burial of a traditional ruler.
Dr. Fakayode referenced an existing court ruling that mandates Yoruba kings be buried according to indigenous customs rather than foreign religious practices such as Islam or Christianity. He argued that the state’s action is not only a cultural breach but also a direct violation of existing law.
“The Ogun State Government’s enforcement of Islamic rites for Oba Adetona’s burial clearly goes against Part 8, Section 55, Sub-section II of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law,” Fakayode said, emphasizing that the law obligates traditional rites in the burial of monarchs.
He went on to commend the Osugbo Confraternity—the traditional group responsible for the performance of customary burial rites—for displaying remarkable restraint despite allegedly being obstructed from performing their duties during the funeral. “We commend the Osugbo Confraternity for their maturity and patience. Their peaceful conduct, even in the face of adversity, is a true representation of the teachings of Òrúnmìlà,” he noted.
Fakayode stressed that this incident is not just a disagreement over how a king was buried, but a broader issue concerning the preservation of Yoruba cultural identity. “This isn’t just about how a king was buried. It’s about preserving the heritage that binds us as a people. Any move against this is a threat to our identity,” he said.
He also condemned the reported maltreatment of traditional religion practitioners by security agents and representatives of the government during the burial proceedings. He described it as an insult that must be legally addressed.
Echoing similar sentiments, Barrister Ifasola Opeodu labeled the actions of the Ogun State Government, the late king’s family, and participating Islamic clerics as both a cultural and legal offense. “These actions violate the rights of traditional religion practitioners and pose a serious threat to democracy. What happened at the Awujale’s burial was not only unlawful but also an affront to an established cultural system,” he declared.
Opeodu went further to criticize the involvement of Islamic religious leaders, particularly targeting the role played by the Chief Imam of Ijebu-Ode, accusing him of ignoring state laws and promoting a culture of impunity.
He concluded by assuring the public that legal steps will be taken to ensure that those responsible for the burial decisions are held accountable and that such cultural infractions do not occur in future state or royal funerals.[/p>