Osun Governor Deposes Oba Oloyede Over US Fraud Conviction

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has deposed Oba Joseph Oloyede as the Apetu of Ipetumodu, declaring the traditional stool vacant following the monarch's conviction in a United States court for fraud involving COVID-19 relief funds. Adeleke signed the deposition order on May 7, 2026, after state officials obtained a certified true copy of the judgment from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

The decision, announced Monday by Olawale Rasheed, the governor's spokesperson, came after the Osun State Executive Council directed the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs last year to request the court documents directly from Ohio authorities. Officials emphasized that government actions required verified records rather than reliance on social media reports. The order cited Oloyede's guilty plea and conviction as bringing "the institution of Obaship and the stool of Apetumodu of Ipetumodu to disrepute and public odium," necessitating the deposition to preserve peace, order, good government, and the royal stool's honor and integrity.

Oba Oloyede, a dual Nigerian-U.S. citizen, was sentenced on August 26, 2025, by Judge Christopher Boyko to 56 months...