Kingmakers in Oyo, otherwise known as Oyomesi, have been quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged bribery.

The seven kingmakers were said to have been invited by the anti-graft commission, following a petition alleging that they were bribed by certain candidates aspiring to the stool of Alaafin of Oyo.

Former Alaafin Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III joined his ancestors in April last year after a 52-year reign.

The succession race has been hot among 89 candidates, who were interviewed for the stool.

While the Agunloye Ruling House is next to produce the new Alaafin according to the government gazette, nine other royal families are in court to compel the government and kingmakers to include them in the race.

It was gathered that though the kingmakers were invited by the Ibadan office of the commission, only two of them honoured the invitation on Tuesday.

The two (names withheld) were said to have been grilled for hours before they were released.

When asked to give details of the interrogation, he added: “They went with their lawyer who answered their questions. There is nothing I can say now because only their lawyer has the details. And none of them is willing to say anything now.”

It was learnt that the kingmakers were allegedly bribed with huge sums of money to influence their choice as the next Alaafin.

Governor Seyi Makinde had declared that Alaafin’s stool was not for sale, warning that anyone found to be involved in bribery to influence the choice of the next Alaafin would be handed over to the anti-graft agency.

His declaration suggested that he was aware that some candidates were bribing the kingmakers. But it is not clear if Tuesday’s grilling was connected with the state government. (Tex, excluding headline: The Nation)

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