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 over fraud-related offences.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.
According to the statement, the action followed the receipt of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment delivered by a court in Ohio, United States.
Oba Oloyede was sentenced on August 26, 2025, by US District Judge Christopher Boyko to 56 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to charges including wire fraud, filing false tax returns and engaging in monetary transactions involving criminally derived property.
The Osun State Government said it had earlier directed the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to obtain the court judgment before taking action.
The government said the decision was taken to ensure that any action would not be based on social media reports alone.
Mr Rasheed said the deposition order signed by Governor Adeleke on May 7 was aimed at maintaining order and preserving the integrity of the royal stool.
According to him, the monarch’s conviction and trial had brought the stool of the Apetumodu into disrepute.
The government also declared the stool vacant and said the process of appointing a new traditional ruler would begin at the appropriate time.
Adeleke urged residents of Ipetumodu to remain peaceful while the process continues.
The development comes months after the Osun State Government denied reports circulating on social media that Oba Joseph Oloyede had been removed from office.
At the time, the government said it was awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the US court judgment before taking any decision.
