The dethroned Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has approached a state High Court seeking to restrain Governor Ademola Adeleke from appointing a successor to the traditional stool.
Oloyede, who was convicted in the United States over fraud-related offences, is asking the court to stop the governor and other government officials from taking steps to fill the vacant stool pending the determination of a suit challenging his removal.
In a motion on notice filed before the Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife, the monarch alleged that he was not formally notified of any wrongdoing before the state government initiated the process leading to his removal.
The application, dated September 16, 2026, seeks an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, their agents and representatives from appointing another person as Apetumodu until the substantive case is determined.
Oloyede, listed as the second claimant in suit number HIF/50/2026, argued that his removal was carried out without giving him an opportunity to respond to the allegations against him.
Part of the court filing stated that a publication in The Guardian on May 11, 2026, reported that Adeleke had signed an instrument on May 7, 2026, removing him from the throne.
The claimant maintained that neither the governor nor the relevant government officials informed him of any alleged misconduct before the publication and the purported deposition order.
Other claimants in the suit are Prince Oyewusi Adewusi, Prince Isaac Adewuni and Prince Abiodun Oyetoro, who instituted the action on behalf of themselves and other members of the Latimogun Royal Family of the Aribile Ruling House in Ipetumodu.
The defendants include Adeleke, the 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 case were stalled on Monday following a dispute over the service of hearing notices on the defendants.
Only counsel to the claimants, O. Ogbewe, and Soji Oyetayo, who represented the fifth defendant, 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.
He consequently requested an adjournment to enable the claimants to serve the necessary notices on all the defendants.
In his ruling, Justice Dapo Adeniji adjourned the matter until January 21, 2027, and directed that fresh hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants.
The legal dispute followed Adeleke’s approval of Oloyede’s removal from the traditional stool after his conviction in the United States on charges bordering on tax fraud and money laundering.
