IPETUMODU — Traditional chiefs, princes, and key stakeholders from the ruling houses of Ipetumodu in Ife-North Local Government Area of Osun State have come out in full support of the state government’s decisive action to depose their traditional ruler, Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede (Latimogun I). The high-profile throne was officially declared vacant by Governor Ademola Adeleke following the monarch's criminal conviction and incarceration in the United States.

The unified stance from the community followed Governor Adeleke's executive approval of the deposition. Rather than triggering localized unrest, the move has been widely praised across the ancient town as a necessary, mature step to preserve the sanctity, cultural heritage, and institutional integrity of the revered Apetu of Ipetumodu stool.

The Catalyst: Legal Woes and a 56-Month US Prison Sentence

The dramatic fall of Oba Oloyede began unfolding in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The first-class traditional ruler, who also served as the Deputy Chairman of the Osun State Council of Kings, was indicted alongside a co-conspirator for orchestrating a complex $4.2 million COVID-19 tax fraud and money laundering scheme.

Following a detailed international investigation, the monarch entered a guilty plea to the federal charges. In late August 2025, U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko sentenced Oba Oloyede to 56 months in federal prison, mandated three years of supervised release post-imprisonment, and ordered a staggering $4.4 million in financial restitution.

The Osun State Government finalized its regulatory intervention after officially receiving the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Ohio court's final judgment. Because the community had been left without functional royal leadership for roughly nine months post-conviction, indigenous ruling factions had begun growing highly agitated over the prolonged administrative vacuum.

Ruling Houses Praise Government Intervention

Princes and administrative heads from the two dominant royal lines the Aribile and Fagbemokun ruling houses praised Governor Adeleke and the Deputy Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Akinyode Abidemi Oyewusi, for executing a swift layout to stabilize the town's traditional governance.

Speaking on behalf of the Aribile Ruling House, Prince Olaboye Ayoola expressed deep appreciation for the strategic handling of the crisis. Ayoola had previously issued a strict one-week ultimatum to the state capital, warning that the community might reconsider its grassroots political support if the stool was left compromised.

"We want to appreciate our governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and the Deputy Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Prince Abidemi Oyeyode Oyewusi, for the mature manner they handled our demands that the stool of Apetu be declared vacant," Ayoola stated. "Oyewusi, being a proud indigene of Ipetumodu, has done exceptionally well in ensuring that our collective demands were met by the governor, and we will continue to fully support his legislative mandate and the Adeleke administration."

Ayoola revealed that during troubleshooting meetings brokered by the Governor's Chief of Staff, Hon. Kazeem Akinleye, the community also secured major structural dividends. The state government officially approved the complete reconstruction of the major road linking Ipetumodu directly to the interstate toll gate. Furthermore, plans were finalized to deploy medical personnel and diagnostic hardware to open the modern hospital facility gifted to Ipetumodu by the previous federal administration.

Traditional Chiefs Take Charge

Echoing these sentiments, Prince Adewole Oyetunde, the Head of Princes for the Fagbemokun Ruling House, confirmed that the ancient town has remained completely peaceful and orderly since the throne was declared vacant. He emphasized that while the community deeply regretted the legal misfortune of the incarcerated ex-monarch, the overarching cultural and economic interests of the town had to take precedence over individual sentiments.

On the administrative front, the kingmakers and traditional king's cabinet have moved swiftly to prevent any institutional breakdown. Speaking on behalf of the local council of chiefs, the Mosala of Ipetumodu, Chief Adebanjo Oyetunde, disclosed that the chiefs have taken full administrative charge of the town’s traditional affairs.

The traditional council is currently collaborating with the ruling houses to manage local security and maintain civil order while working out the legal and traditional frameworks required to launch a transparent, dispute-free selection process for the next Apetu of Ipetumodu.