Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the removal of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, following his conviction and imprisonment in the United States over fraud-related offences. The decision, through which Adeleke deposes monarch Oba Oloyede, was announced after the state government received certified court documents confirming the monarch’s conviction.
Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State, had faced legal proceedings in the United States linked to fraud allegations involving COVID-19 relief funds and related financial offences.
The monarch, who reportedly held dual Nigerian and American citizenship, was convicted by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on charges including wire fraud, filing false tax returns, and engaging in transactions involving criminally derived property. He was sentenced on August 26, 2025, to 56 months imprisonment.
The case attracted significant public attention within Osun State, with residents and stakeholders in Ipetumodu previously calling for government action concerning the royal stool following the conviction.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the Osun State Government confirmed that the action through which Adeleke deposes monarch Oba Oloyede followed the receipt of a Certified True Copy of the Ohio court judgment.
According to the statement, the Osun State Executive Council had earlier directed the Ministry of Local Government to formally obtain the court judgment before taking any official decision on the matter. The statement read: “The Council had justified the decision to contact the Ohio court on the ground that governmental decisions should not be based on social media reporting alone.”
The deposition order signed by Governor Adeleke on May 7, 2026, stated that the monarch’s conduct and subsequent conviction had brought the traditional institution into public disrepute. According to the government, the decision through which Adeleke deposes monarch Oba Oloyede was taken “to maintain peace, order and good government as well as preserve the honour and integrity of the royal stool.”
The government further stated that the stool of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu had now been declared vacant, while necessary procedures would commence for the appointment of a new traditional ruler in accordance with applicable customs and laws. Residents of the community were also urged to remain peaceful and law-abiding during the succession process.
The decision in which Adeleke deposes monarch Oba Oloyede highlights increasing scrutiny of public office holders and traditional rulers regarding conduct both within and outside Nigeria.
The development also reflects the growing intersection between international criminal proceedings and local governance institutions, particularly where convictions abroad affect public confidence in traditional leadership structures. Legal and governance analysts note that the case may influence future handling of misconduct allegations involving traditional rulers across the country.
