The Giesi Ruling House of Ife has debunked a report which circulated in some newspapers that the family has submitted names of five contestants to the kingmakers.

The Secretary of the house, Prince Adelowo Ogunleye, said this at a press conference on Thursday in Osogbo that the report was unfounded and should be discountenanced.

Prince Ogunleye, “Giesi Ruling House is a law abiding one and we want to make it public that we have not submitted names of any of the contestants to the kingmakers.

“We have not received any letter of invitation from the government that we should submit contestant’s names to the kingmakers.

“There are four ruling houses in Ile Ife and by the declaration of 1980, it is now the turn of our family to produce the next Ooni.”

Ogunleye said that those who were conniving to illegally get to the throne were the ones behind the numerous allegations against the Giesi family. The leader of the family said they had not screened any of the contestants, adding that some members of the family were still showing interest in the race.

While responding to an allegation that the family sold their right to ascend the throne for N5m to the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Ogunleye however charged the Amodo ruling Family which made the allegation to produce evidence to support their claims.