The dethroned Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, convicted in the United States of America for offences bordering on fraud, has dragged the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, before the court, asking it to stop him from filling the stool.
Oba Oloyede, who is the second claimant in suit no. HIF/50/2026, in his motion on notice filed before an Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife, alleged that Adeleke did not formally inform him of any infraction he committed before embarking on the process to replace him.
He sought an order of the court stopping the governor or any of his officials from filling the stool of Apetumodu until the substantive suit was determined.
Other claimants in the matter include Prince Oyewusi Adewusi, Prince Isaac Adewuni, and Prince Abiodun Oyetoro, for themselves and on behalf of other members of the Latimogun Royal Family of the Aribile Ruling House of Ipetumodu.
Besides Adeleke, other defendants in the matter 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 the head of the kingmakers, Chief Adesoye Babalola, the Malefon of Ipetumodu, and the Ife North Local Government.
The motion on notice filed by Oloyede, dated September 16, 2026, partly 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.
“That in The Guardian Newspaper of May 11, 2026 (online edition), it was alleged that the 2nd claimant/applicant has, by order/instrument purportedly signed by the 1st defendant on May 7, 2026, been deposed from office as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu without any lawful basis.
“That there was no time the 2nd claimant/applicant was informed by the 1st-3rd defendants of any wrongdoing before the issuance of the publication contained in the said Guardian Newspaper and the purported instrument or order of deposition.”
The hearing in the matter was, however, stalled on Monday, following non-service of hearing notices on the parties in the case.
During the day’s proceedings, only the claimants’ counsel, O. Ogbewe, and counsel for the 5th defendant, Soji Oyetayo, entered appearances.
Addressing the court, Ogbewe said he had served the defendants with the processes regarding the case.
But Oyetayo, counsel for the 5th respondent, Adesoye Babalola, said hearing notice had not been served on him by the claimants.
Oyetayo subsequently urged the court to adjourn the matter for the claimants to serve all the defendants’ hearing notices.
In his ruling, Justice Dapo Adeniji adjourned the case to January 21, 2027, and ordered that fresh hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants.
The PUNCH reported that Adeleke approved the deposition of Oba Oloyede as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, following his conviction in the US on tax fraud and money laundering charges.