Convicted Osun Monarch Sues Adeleke, Seeks to Stop Appointment of Successor

The dethroned Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has dragged Governor Ademola Adeleke to court, seeking an order to stop the state government from appointing his successor.

Oloyede, who was convicted in the United States of tax fraud and money laundering, is challenging the process that led to his removal. He alleges that the governor deposed him without first notifying him of any alleged wrongdoing or allowing him to respond.

In a motion on notice filed at the Osun State High Court in Ile-Ife, Oloyede, named as the second claimant in suit No. HIF/50/2026, sought an interlocutory injunction barring Adeleke and the other defendants from taking steps to fill the vacant stool while the substantive suit is pending.

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He also asked the court to prevent the defendants from appointing anyone to replace him as Apetumodu of Ipetumodu.

In the application dated September 16, 2026, Oloyede argued that his purported deposition was unlawful. He said neither the governor nor the relevant state officials informed him of any infraction before announcing his removal.

He cited a May 11, 2026, report by The Guardian stating that Adeleke had signed an instrument of deposition on May 7, 2026.

The motion partly reads: “There was no time the 2nd claimant/applicant was informed by the 1st-3rd defendants of any wrongdoing before the issuance of the publication contained in the said Guardian Newspaper and the purported instrument or order of deposition.”

Oloyede is pursuing the suit alongside Prince Oyewusi Adewusi, Prince Isaac Adewuni and Prince Abiodun Oyetoro. They are suing on behalf of themselves and other members of the Latimogun Royal Family of the Aribile Ruling House of Ipetumodu.

The defendants include Adeleke; the Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Chief Afolabi Adedeji, the Asalu of Ipetumodu and head of the kingmakers; Chief Adesoye Babalola, the Malefon of Ipetumodu; and Ife North Local Government.

Proceedings in the suit were stalled on Monday over a dispute about service of hearing notices on the parties.

Only counsel for the claimants, O. Ogbewe, and counsel for the fifth defendant, Soji Oyetayo, were present in court.

Ogbewe told the court that the defendants had been served with the processes, but Oyetayo said he had not received a hearing notice.

Oyetayo consequently urged the court to adjourn the matter to allow the claimants to serve all the defendants with the necessary notices.

In his ruling, Justice Dapo Adeniji adjourned the case until January 21, 2027, and directed that fresh hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants.

Adeleke had approved Oloyede’s removal from the throne following his conviction in the United States for tax fraud and money laundering.