US-convicted monarch drags Adeleke to court over move to appoint new Apetumodu

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

The dethroned Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has approached an Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife to restrain Governor Ademola Adeleke from filling the vacant traditional stool.

Oloyede, who was convicted in the United States of America (USA) of offences bordering on fraud, is seeking an order restraining the governor and other defendants from appointing another person as Apetumodu pending the determination of the substantive suit.

In a motion on notice dated September 16, 2026, filed in suit number HIF/50/2026, the monarch, listed as the second claimant, accused the governor of initiating the process that led to his removal without formally notifying him of any alleged wrongdoing. Other claimants include three princes who filed the suit on behalf of members of the Latimogun Royal Family of the Aribile Ruling House of Ipetumodu.

Besides Adeleke, other defendants are 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.

The claimants are seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from taking steps to fill the Apetumodu stool or appointing another person in Oloyede’s place pending the determination of the suit. “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 second claimant, who is the occupant of the Apetu’s stool, pending the hearing and final determination of this suit,” the motion partly read.

Meanwhile, proceedings in the case were stalled on Monday over issues surrounding the service of hearing notices on the parties. Only counsel to the claimants, O. Ogbewe, and Soji Oyetayo, who represented the fifth defendant, Chief Adesoye Babalola, appeared before the court.

While Ogbewe told the court that the defendants had been served with the relevant court processes, Oyetayo said he had not received the hearing notice and urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable the claimants to serve all the defendants.

In his ruling, Justice Dapo Adeniji adjourned the case until January 21, 2027, and ordered that fresh hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants.