Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has officially dethroned Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu, following the conviction of the traditional ruler in the United States over fraud allegations relating to Covid-19 funds.
Oloyede’s removal was announced in a statement by Olawale Rasheed, the media aide to Governor Adeleke, in a statement on Monday, May 11.
Photo Credit: @Osun_State_Gov
Source: Twitter
Legit.ng recalled that Oba Oloyede was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment in the United States in August 2025. He reportedly created and led a scheme that wired over $4.2 million from the federal loan and grant programmes, which were meant to support small businesses confronting economic challenges they suffered because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The office of the US Attorney, Northern District of Ohio, explained that the 62-year-old traditional ruler holds both Nigerian and US citizenship. He was said to be residing in Medina, Ohio.
He was sentenced to 56 months (four and a half years) in prison by the U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko on Tuesday, August 26. He pleaded guilty to the allegations after he was first charged in April.
The three charges brought against the traditional ruler are:
- One count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
- Three counts of Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Criminally Derived Property
- Two counts of Making and Subscribing a False Tax Return
However, the governor explained that the deposition of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in the Ife North Local Government Area of the state came after the receipt of the Certified True Copy of the Ohio court judgement, which convicted the monarch.
Adeleke added that the Osun State Executive Council had written to the Ohio court in 2025 through the Ministry of Local Government, requesting the judgment’s Certified True Copy, which subsequently formed the basis of his administration decision.
The governor defended his decision to reach out to the Ohio court, adding that the government’s decision should not be informed by only social media reports. The deposition order, which was signed by the governor on Thursday, May 7, he said it was to peace and good government and preserve the integrity and honour of the traditional stool.
His statement reads in part:
“The Deposition Order further stated that the fraudulent conduct of Oba Joseph Oloyede, as found by the US court and which he pleaded guilty to, and his public trial and conviction have brought the institution of Obaship and the stool of Apetumodu of Ipetumodu to disrepute and public odium, hence the resort to deposition.”
Source: Legit.ng