Governor Adeleke Dethrones Osun Monarch Jailed in America Over ₦6 Billion COVID Fraud; State Vows to Protect Integrity of ‘Obaship’ After Official US Court Papers Arrive

The “technical trenches” of traditional leadership in Osun State shifted dramatically on Monday as Governor Ademola Adeleke officially stripped Oba Joseph Oloyede of his crown. The Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, who has been at the center of an international legal scandal, was formally deposed following confirmation of his imprisonment in the United States for a high-stakes “digital-age” fraud scheme.

The downfall of the monarch began in the Northern District of Ohio, where a US court sentenced him to 56 months behind bars. Oloyede’s “technical rescue” of his own finances involved a sophisticated plot to defraud the American government of over $4.4 million in COVID-19 relief funds. Investigators found that he had submitted falsified tax documents and loan applications for businesses under his control, leading to a guilty plea that sent shockwaves through his home constituency in Ife North.

While rumors of the conviction had circulated for months, the Adeleke administration maintained a “proper portal” of governance by refusing to act on hearsay. The state government insisted on obtaining the Certified True Copy of the judgment directly from the US authorities. With those documents finally in hand, the Governor signed the Deposition Order, stating that the monarch’s fraudulent actions had brought the ancient stool of Ipetumodu into “public odium” and disrepute.

“The integrity of our traditional institutions must be protected at all costs,” a statement from the Governor’s office read. The move is seen as a “value-addition” to the state’s commitment to transparency and moral leadership. By declaring the stool vacant, the government has signaled that even the highest traditional office is not a shield against the consequences of criminal activity.

As the community of Ipetumodu prepares for a new chapter, the Ministry of Local Government has been tasked with managing a peaceful transition. For many residents, the deposition brings a sense of closure to a saga that had cast a long shadow over the town’s reputation. The search for a successor will now begin, with the state government promising a process that restores the dignity and honor of the royal palace.