Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the deposition of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, following the monarch’s conviction in the United States for tax fraud and money laundering offences.
Oba Oloyede, a dual citizen of Nigeria and the United States, was arrested in May 2024 during a visit to the US in connection with fraud involving COVID-19 support funds. He was later sentenced to 56 months’ imprisonment by a United States District Court Judge, Christopher A. Boyko.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the state government said Adeleke’s decision followed the receipt of the Certified True Copy of the judgment of the Ohio court which convicted the monarch.
According to the statement, the Osun State Executive Council had resolved last year that the Ministry of Local Government should write to the Ohio court to request the Certified True Copy of the judgment in order to form the basis for government action.
“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 statement said.
Rasheed said the Deposition Order, signed by Governor Adeleke on May 7, 2026, was based on the need to maintain peace, order and good government, as well as preserve the honour and integrity of the royal stool.
The order stated that the fraudulent conduct of Oba Oloyede, as found by the US court and to which he pleaded guilty, together with his public trial and conviction, had brought the institution of Obaship and the stool of Apetumodu of Ipetumodu into disrepute and public odium.
According to the government, this necessitated his deposition.
The statement noted that Oba Oloyede was sentenced on August 26, 2025, to 56 months’ imprisonment for wire fraud, making false tax returns and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
“By this deposition, the stool of Apetumodu of Ipetumodu has been declared vacant, while the necessary process will be put in place to appoint a new Apetumodu of Ipetumodu at the appropriate time,” the statement added.
Governor Adeleke appealed to sons and daughters of Ipetumodu to remain peaceful and law-abiding while the process of selecting and installing a new monarch is being undertaken.
