The dethroned Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has filed a lawsuit against Governor Ademola Adeleke, seeking to stop the state government from appointing a replacement for him. Oloyede, who was convicted in the United States over fraud-related offences, is the second claimant in suit number HIF/50/2026 before an Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife.
In a motion on notice, he alleged that the governor did not formally notify him of any wrongdoing before initiating the process to remove him from the traditional stool. He is asking the court to restrain Adeleke and other government officials from appointing another person as Apetumodu of Ipetumodu until the substantive suit is determined.
Other claimants in the case are Prince Oyewusi Adewusi, Prince Isaac Adewuni and Prince Abiodun Oyetoro. They filed the suit on their behalf and that of other members of the Latimogun Royal Family of the Aribile Ruling House of Ipetumodu. The defendants include Governor 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.
In the motion dated September 16, 2026, Oloyede asked the court to issue an interlocutory injunction preventing the defendants, either directly or through their representatives, from taking steps to fill the Apetumodu stool or appointing another person in his place pending the final determination of the case. He also referred to a report published by The Guardian on May 11, 2026, which stated that he had been deposed through an instrument allegedly signed by the governor on May 7, 2026.
Oloyede maintained that neither the governor nor the relevant state officials had informed him of any alleged wrongdoing before the publication and the purported deposition order. However, proceedings were stalled on Monday because hearing notices had not been served on all parties involved in the case. Only the claimants’ counsel, O. Ogbewe, and Soji Oyetayo, who represented the fifth defendant, Chief Adesoye Babalola, appeared in court.
Ogbewe told the court that the defendants had been served with the relevant court processes. However, Oyetayo said he had not received a hearing notice and asked the court to adjourn the matter to allow the claimants to serve all the defendants. 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. Oloyede’s removal followed his conviction in the United States on tax fraud and money laundering charges, after which Governor Adeleke approved his deposition as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu.
The dethroned monarch is challenging his removal in court, arguing that he was not formally informed of any wrongdoing before his deposition. He wants the court to stop the Osun State Government from appointing a replacement until the case is decided. The hearing has been adjourned to January 21, 2027.
Leave a comment