Osun Governor Adeleke Orders Action on Jailed Osun Monarch Oba Joseph Oloyede, Pushing Local Government to Intervene
Osogbo, Osun State — In a significant development following the conviction of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has formally ordered that decisive action be taken regarding the monarch’s status. The directive came during a recent State Executive Council meeting, signaling the government’s intent to address the escalating crisis that has engulfed Ipetumodu since Oba Oloyede’s sentencing in the United States for COVID-19 loan fraud.
Oba Joseph Oloyede, the 27th Apetumodu, was sentenced in late August 2025 by U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko to 56 months in prison. Oloyede, who holds dual Nigerian and U.S. citizenship and resides in Medina, Ohio, was convicted of leading a conspiracy that exploited COVID-19 emergency loan programmes under the CARES Act between April 2020 and February 2022. The court mandated that he pay over $4.4 million in restitution, forfeit assets including his Medina property, and serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio confirmed these details in a statement on August 26, 2025.
The conviction has plunged Ipetumodu into turmoil, with factions divided over whether to keep the throne vacant pending Oba Oloyede’s return or to proceed with installing a new monarch. The kingmakers have notably withheld declaring the throne vacant, calling instead on the Osun State government for guidance. The tension heightened amid reports that royal paraphernalia had gone missing from the monarch’s residence, sparking fears of instability within the town.
Governor Adeleke, through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Dosu Babatunde, has been mandated to intervene and resolve the dispute. The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, stated that the Governor’s directive came as part of the Council’s review of key policy issues and highlighted Adeleke’s concern over the “ugly development” affecting Ipetumodu. Prior to this, the government awaited a certified true copy of the U.S. court judgment before initiating actions.
“The Governor has ordered Dosu Babatunde to act swiftly to address the lingering crisis surrounding the Apetumodu’s stool. It is critical to restore peace and order in Ipetumodu to prevent further divisions,” said Alimi.
Local experts and observers emphasize the importance of the government’s role in stabilizing the traditional institution that is pivotal to community identity and governance at the grassroots. An Ipetumodu elder, who asked not to be named, noted, “The prolonged uncertainty is unsettling the people and affecting local governance and development. The state government’s intervention is timely and crucial.”
As the government mobilizes to address the crisis, attention will focus on how traditional succession protocols will be balanced with legal and political realities arising from the monarch’s incarceration abroad.
Summary and Next Steps:
Governor Adeleke’s directive underscores urgent government involvement in resolving the chieftaincy dilemma at Ipetumodu. The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters is tasked with consulting stakeholders and possibly brokering a compromise that respects tradition while addressing the monarch’s legal incapacitation. The coming weeks are key for setting a clear framework for succession or temporary governance to restore stability to the community.
This evolving story marks a rare intersection of international legal consequences affecting local traditional rulership in Nigeria, highlighting the need for adaptable governance frameworks in a changing global context.
