The dethroned Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has dragged Governor Ademola Adeleke before an Osun State High Court, seeking an order restraining the governor from appointing a successor to the vacant traditional stool.Oloyede, who was deposed following his conviction in the United States of America over offences bordering on tax fraud and money laundering, is challenging the circumstances surrounding his removal and the subsequent moves to fill the revered traditional institution.
In a motion on notice filed before the High Court sitting in Ile-Ife, the former monarch asked the court to restrain Adeleke and other government officials from taking any step towards appointing another person as Apetumodu pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The application, dated September 16, 2026, forms part of suit number HIF/50/2026, in which Oloyede is listed as the second claimant alongside Prince Oyewusi Adewusi, Prince Isaac Adewuni and Prince Abiodun Oyetoro.
The other claimants are reportedly acting for themselves and on behalf of other members of the Latimogun Royal Family of the Aribile Ruling House of Ipetumodu.
In his application, Oloyede argued that Governor Adeleke and the relevant state authorities failed to formally notify him of any alleged wrongdoing before taking steps that culminated in his removal from office.
He also questioned the legality of the instrument purportedly signed by the governor on May 7, 2026, through which he was reportedly deposed, insisting that he was not given prior notice of any infraction or an opportunity to respond to the allegations against him.
Part of the motion read: “An order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants/respondents either by themselves or through their servants, agents or privies from taking any step to fill the stool of the Apetu (Apetumodu) of Ipetumodu or appoint any person in place of the 2nd claimant who is the occupant of the Apetu’s stool, pending the hearing and final determination of this suit.”
Oloyede further referred to a report published by The Guardian on May 11, 2026, alleging that he had been removed through an instrument signed by the governor four days earlier, without any lawful basis.
He maintained that neither the governor nor the second and third defendants informed him of any wrongdoing before the purported deposition was announced.
Apart from Adeleke, other defendants in the suit include 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.
Meanwhile, proceedings in the matter were stalled on Monday after issues relating to the service of hearing notices on the parties prevented the court from proceeding with the case.
Only counsel to the claimants, O. Ogbewe, and Soji Oyetayo, who appeared for the fifth defendant, Chief Adesoye Babalola, were present in court.
While Ogbewe told the court that the defendants had been served with the necessary processes, Oyetayo informed the court that he had not received the hearing notice from the claimants.
Following the development, Justice Dapo Adeniji adjourned the matter until January 21, 2027, directing that fresh hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants.
Oloyede’s legal challenge comes against the background of his conviction in the United States, where he was sentenced to 56 months’ imprisonment by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on August 26, 2025.
His conviction over offences involving tax fraud and money laundering subsequently became the basis for the Osun State Government’s action against his occupancy of the Apetumodu stool.
The latest court action has therefore introduced another legal dimension to the controversy surrounding the traditional institution, with the question of filling the vacant stool now forming part of the issues before the court.
With the matter adjourned until January 21, 2027, the court is expected to hear the parties on the dispute, while the former monarch’s request to prevent the appointment of a successor remains subject to judicial determination.
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