Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has approved the deposition of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, following his conviction in the United States over fraud-related offences.
The governor said the decision was taken after the state government received the Certified True Copy of the judgment delivered by a court in Ohio, United States, which convicted the monarch on charges bordering on tax fraud and money laundering.
According to a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the Osun State Executive Council had earlier directed the Ministry of Local Government to obtain the certified court judgment from the Ohio court to ensure that any action taken by the government was based on official records rather than social media reports.
The deposition order, signed by Governor Adeleke on May 7, 2026, stated that the action became necessary to maintain peace, order and good governance, as well as to protect the sanctity and integrity of the traditional institution.
The order further noted that the conduct of Oba Oloyede, who pleaded guilty to the offences in the US court, had brought the revered stool of the Apetumodu and the institution of traditional rulership into disrepute.
Oba Oloyede was reportedly sentenced on August 26, 2025, by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio to 56 months imprisonment for offences including wire fraud, filing false tax returns and engaging in monetary transactions involving criminally derived property.
Following the deposition, the Osun State Government declared the stool of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu vacant and said the process for selecting a new monarch would commence in line with laid-down procedures.
Governor Adeleke also appealed to indigenes of Ipetumodu to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while the process of appointing a new traditional ruler is being carried out.
