Osun monarch dethroned! Gov. Adeleke deposes US-convicted Oba

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the deposition of Oba Joseph Oloyede as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu.

The deposition comes after the receipt of a Certified True Copy of the Ohio court judgment, which convicted the monarch.

This action is a direct result of Oloyede’s guilty plea to charges of wire fraud, filing false tax returns, and engaging in financial transactions involving criminally derived property. He was sentenced to 56 months in prison by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on August 26, 2025.

In a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, it was revealed that the State Executive Council had made the decision last year to formally request the court documents to validate the claims before taking action. This was done to avoid relying solely on social media reports, ensuring that due process was followed in the matter.

Governor Adeleke’s Deposition Order, signed on May 7, 2026, stated that the fraudulent actions of Oloyede had tarnished the reputation of the royal stool and brought it into disrepute, thereby necessitating the deposition to preserve the dignity and integrity of the throne.

“The fraudulent conduct of Oba Joseph Oloyede, as determined by the US court, and his subsequent public trial and conviction, have resulted in the loss of public trust in the Apetumodu stool, which warrants this action,” the statement read.

With the deposition now in effect, the stool of Apetumodu of Ipetumodu has been declared vacant. The necessary steps will be taken to appoint a new monarch at the appropriate time, the statement continued.

Governor Adeleke also called for calm among the people of Ipetumodu, urging them to remain peaceful and law-abiding as the process to install a new monarch gets underway.