Oba Joseph Oloyede’s deposition as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu has been approved by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The ruling came after Oloyede was found guilty of money laundering and tax fraud in the United States of America. Following receipt of the Certified True Copy of the Ohio court verdict that found the king guilty, the governor has taken action, and his approval of the monarch’s deposition might have dampened the monarch’s situation. This automatically means that the monarch cannot return to rule any longer.
The State Executive Council decided “last year that the Ministry of Local Government should write to the Ohio court to request the Certified True Copy of the judgment to form the basis for the government action,” according to a statement released in Osogbo on Monday by Olawale Rasheed, the governor’s spokesperson.
“In the Deposition Order signed by His Excellency on 7th May, 2026, the action was predicated on the need to maintain peace, order and good government as well as preserve the honour and integrity of the royal stool”, the statement read.
“The Deposition Order further stated that the fraudulent conduct of Oba Joseph Oloyede, as found by the US court and which he pleaded guilty to, and his public trial and conviction have brought the institution of Obaship and the stool of Apetumodu of Ipetumodu to disrepute and public odium, hence the resort to deposition.
“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.
“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 governor appeals to sons and daughters of Ipetumodu to remain peaceful and law-abiding while the process of installing a new king is being processed”, the statement concludes.
Oba Josephy Oleyede case
ENigeria Newspaper recalls that on August 26, 2025, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, United States of America, sentenced Oba Joseph Oloyede to 56 months in prison for wire fraud, filing false tax returns, and conducting financial transactions in property derived from criminal activity.
Earlier in February, two recognised ruling houses in Ipetumodu, Osun State, have initiated fresh steps towards filling the vacant stool of Apetu of Ipetumodu after obtaining a Certified True Copy of a United States court judgment against the town’s monarch.
