The dethroned Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has dragged Governor Ademola Adeleke before a state High Court, seeking to stop the government from appointing a replacement for him.
Oloyede, who was convicted in the United States of America on tax fraud and money laundering charges, is asking the Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife to restrain Adeleke and other government officials from taking steps to fill the Apetumodu stool pending the determination of a substantive suit.
The former monarch, listed as the second claimant in suit No. HIF/50/2026, alleged in a motion on notice that he was never formally notified of any wrongdoing before the governor initiated the process that led to his deposition.
He is seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, either personally or through their agents, from appointing another person to occupy the throne until the court determines the suit.
Other claimants in the matter are Prince Oyewusi Adewusi, Prince Isaac Adewuni and Prince Abiodun Oyetoro, who instituted the action on their behalf and that of other members of the Latimogun Royal Family of the Aribile Ruling House of Ipetumodu.
Apart from Adeleke, the defendants 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.
In the motion dated September 16, 2026, Oloyede asked the court for:
“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.”
Meanwhile, proceedings in the suit were stalled on Monday following the non-service of hearing notices on some of the parties.
Only counsel to the claimants, O. Ogbewe, and Soji Oyetayo, who represented the fifth defendant, Chief Adesoye Babalola, appeared in court.
Ogbewe told the court that he had served the defendants with the relevant processes. However, Oyetayo disputed the claim, informing the court that he had not received a hearing notice from the claimants.
He consequently urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable the claimants to serve hearing notices on 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.
Adeleke had approved Oloyede’s deposition as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu following the monarch’s conviction in the United States on tax fraud and money laundering charges.
