Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the deposition of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Joseph Oloyede, following the monarch’s conviction in the United States over fraud-related offences.
The Osun State Government said the decision followed the receipt of the Certified True Copy of the judgment delivered by a United States court in Ohio, which convicted the traditional ruler on charges bordering on tax fraud and money laundering.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued in Osogbo by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.
According to the statement, the Osun State Executive Council had earlier directed the Ministry of Local Government to obtain the certified court judgment before taking any formal action against the monarch.
The government explained that the move was necessary to ensure that any decision taken was based on verified legal documents rather than media or social media reports.
“In the Deposition Order signed by Governor Adeleke on May 7, 2026, the action was predicated on the need to maintain peace, order and good governance, as well as preserve the honour and integrity of the royal stool,” the statement said.
The government further stated that Oba Oloyede’s guilty plea, public trial, and conviction in the United States had brought the traditional institution into disrepute and subjected the stool of the Apetumodu to public embarrassment.
According to the statement, the monarch’s conviction undermined the dignity and integrity associated with the throne.
Oba Oloyede was sentenced on August 26, 2025, by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio to 56 months imprisonment after being convicted of 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 announced that the process of selecting a new traditional ruler would commence in accordance with laid-down procedures.
Governor Adeleke also urged residents and indigenes of Ipetumodu to remain peaceful and law-abiding throughout the transition process.
