The dethroned Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has approached an Osun State High Court to restrain Governor Ademola Adeleke from appointing a successor to the traditional stool.
Oloyede, who was convicted in the United States over fraud-related offences, is challenging his removal from the throne and seeking an order preventing the state government from filling the position pending the determination of his substantive suit.
The case, filed before the High Court sitting in Ile-Ife, centres on the legality of the monarch’s deposition and the subsequent declaration of the Apetumodu stool as vacant.
The former monarch accused the state government of removing him without formally notifying him of any alleged wrongdoing or giving him an opportunity to respond.
In a motion dated September 16, 2026, Oloyede asked the court to restrain Adeleke and other government officials from appointing another person to the stool until the substantive case is determined.
He is listed as the second claimant in the suit, alongside Princes Oyewusi Adewusi, Isaac Adewuni and Abiodun Oyetoro, who are representing members of the Latimogun Royal Family of the Aribile Ruling House of Ipetumodu.
The defendants include the governor, the Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, traditional chiefs involved in the process and Ife North Local Government.
The claimants are challenging a deposition instrument signed by Adeleke on May 7, 2026, which removed Oloyede from the traditional position.
They maintained that the government failed to notify the monarch of any alleged wrongdoing before taking the decision.
Court proceedings stalled
Proceedings in the case were stalled on Monday following disagreements over the service of hearing notices on the defendants.
Only counsel to the claimants, O. Ogbewe, and Soji Oyetayo, who represented the fifth defendant, Chief Adesoye Babalola, appeared before the court.
Ogbewe told the court that the relevant court processes had been served on the defendants.
However, Oyetayo informed the court that he had not received the hearing notice and requested an adjournment to enable proper service on all parties.
Justice Dapo Adeniji subsequently adjourned the matter until January 21, 2027, and directed that fresh hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants.
The court has yet to determine the application seeking to prevent the appointment of a successor.
Background
Oloyede was sentenced to 56 months’ imprisonment in the United States in August 2025 over offences involving fraudulent applications for COVID-19 relief funds.
Following his conviction, the Osun State Government approved his deposition in May 2026 after obtaining a certified true copy of the US court judgment.
The government subsequently declared the Apetumodu stool vacant and indicated that steps would be taken to appoint a successor.
The former monarch is now seeking judicial intervention to stop the succession process until the court resolves the dispute over his removal.
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