Ademola Adeleke has removed Joseph Oloyede as the traditional ruler of Ipetumodu following his conviction in the United States over COVID-19 relief fraud.
The announcement was made on Monday by Adeleke’s media aide, Olawale Rasheed, in a statement confirming the monarch’s deposition.
Oloyede, who served as the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, was previously sentenced in August 2025 to 56 months imprisonment in the United States after being found guilty of defrauding the US government of about $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
The fraud case was linked to financial assistance programmes introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to support businesses and individuals affected by the global health crisis.
Governor Adeleke’s decision officially removes Oloyede from the throne, marking a major development in the controversy surrounding the monarch’s conviction abroad.
The Osun State Government is expected to announce further steps regarding the traditional stool in Ipetumodu.
