Gov. Adeleke Deposes Apetumodu of Ipetumodu Over US Fraud Conviction
By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved the deposition of Oba Joseph Oloyede as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Osun State following his conviction in the United States on tax fraud and money laundering charges.
The decision followed the receipt of the Certified True Copy of the judgment delivered by a court in Ohio, which convicted the monarch.
According to the state government, the Osun State Executive Council had earlier directed the Ministry of Local Government to formally obtain the court judgment from Ohio to ensure that any government action was based on official legal documents rather than social media reports.
In the deposition order signed by Governor Adeleke on May 7, 2026, the action was said to be necessary to maintain peace, order, good governance, and the integrity of the traditional institution.
The order stated that the fraudulent conduct of Oba Oloyede, as established by the US court and admitted through his guilty plea, had brought the institution of Obaship and the stool of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu into disrepute.
Oba Oloyede was sentenced on August 26, 2025, by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio to 56 months imprisonment for offenses bordering on wire fraud, filing false tax returns, and engaging in monetary transactions involving criminally derived property.
Following the deposition, the stool of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu has been declared vacant pending the commencement of processes to appoint a new traditional ruler.
Governor Adeleke appealed to indigenes of Ipetumodu to remain peaceful and law-abiding while the selection process for a new monarch is being concluded.
Gov. Adeleke Deposes Apetumodu of Ipetumodu Over US Fraud Conviction