By Ayomide Otitoju
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the deposition of Oba Joseph Oloyede as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Ife North Local Government Area following his conviction in the United States for tax fraud and money laundering.
In a statement on Monday, Governor’s spokesperson Olawale Rasheed said the decision followed the receipt of a Certified True Copy of the Ohio court judgment which convicted the monarch.
Rasheed said the Osun State Executive Council had earlier directed the Ministry of Local Government to obtain the official court ruling, stressing that government actions must be based on verified legal documents rather than social media reports.
He said the governor’s deposition order, signed on May 7, 2026, was taken to preserve peace, order, and the integrity of traditional institutions.
According to him, the court found Oba Oloyede guilty of fraud-related offences, including wire fraud and making false tax returns, after which he was sentenced by a United States District Court in Ohio in August 2025.
“The fraudulent conduct and subsequent conviction have brought the stool of Apetumodu of Ipetumodu into disrepute,” the statement said.
Following the decision, the state government declared the traditional stool vacant and said processes would begin for the appointment of a new monarch at the appropriate time.
Governor Adeleke urged residents of Ipetumodu to remain calm and law-abiding during the transition process.
