Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has approved the deposition of Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede as the Apetu of Ipetumodu.
The removal follows the monarch’s conviction in the United States on charges related to tax fraud and money laundering.
The decision was finalized after the state government received a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
A statement released on Monday by the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, noted that the State Executive Council had initiated the request for the official court documents last year to ensure the government’s actions were based on verified legal records rather than social media reports.
According to the Deposition Order signed by Governor Adeleke on May 7, 2026, the removal was deemed necessary to maintain peace and order, as well as to preserve the integrity of the traditional stool.
The order stated that the monarch’s fraudulent conduct to which he pleaded guilty and his subsequent public trial and sentencing had brought the institution of Obaship into disrepute.
Oba Oloyede was previously sentenced on August 26, 2025, to 56 months in federal prison for wire fraud, filing false tax returns, and engaging in monetary transactions involving criminally derived property.
With the deposition now in effect, the stool of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu has been declared vacant.
The state government confirmed that the administrative process to appoint a successor will commence at the appropriate time.
Governor Adeleke further urged the people of Ipetumodu to remain law-abiding and maintain peace as the community transitions toward the installation of a new traditional ruler.
