The Ademola Adeleke has officially deposed the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, following his conviction for fraud in the United States, in a decision that has now left the traditional stool of Ipetumodu vacant.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirming that the action followed the receipt of the Certified True Copy of the judgment from a United States court.
According to the statement, the monarch had earlier been convicted by a U.S. District Court in Ohio on charges of tax fraud and was sentenced to 56 months in prison. The conviction, which became public knowledge earlier, had already triggered protests in Ipetumodu, with residents demanding his removal.
The Osun State Government explained that the decision was not taken lightly, noting that the Executive Council had earlier resolved that the Ministry of Local Government should formally obtain the court judgment directly from the U.S. court system rather than rely on media reports.
Officials said this step was taken to ensure due process and avoid acting on unverified information.
Governor Adeleke, in the Deposition Order signed on May 7, 2026, said the decision was necessary to preserve peace, order, and the dignity of traditional institutions in the state.
The government stated that the monarch’s conviction and guilty plea had brought the stool of Apetumodu “to disrepute and public odium,” making his continued reign untenable.
As a result, the stool has now been declared vacant, and the state government says procedures will soon begin for the selection of a new traditional ruler for Ipetumodu.
The government also appealed to residents of the town to remain calm and law-abiding as the succession process unfolds.
This development adds to ongoing debates about accountability within traditional institutions and the increasing willingness of state governments to enforce disciplinary actions where legal convictions are involved, even at the royal level.