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The Osun State Government has announced that it will take official action over the conviction and sentencing of Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede (Latimogun I), the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, who was recently jailed in the United States for fraud.
The government’s decision was disclosed during the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Ademola Adeleke on Friday evening in Osogbo, the state capital.
At the meeting, the Governor directed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to take immediate steps in addressing what he described as an “ugly development.”
Osun Spring Newspaper recalls that Oba Oloyede was last month (August 2025) sentenced by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio to 56 months in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding the U.S. government of about $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
In addition to his prison term, he was ordered to pay restitution amounting to $4,408,543.38 and to serve three years of supervised release.
The monarch, alongside a co-defendant, Pastor Edward Oluwasanmi, had earlier admitted guilt to charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy.
The Osun State Government has, however, noted that it must first obtain a Certified True Copy of the judgment from the U.S. court before taking further action.
The government explained that the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs will be engaging with the kingmakers and other stakeholders in Ipetumodu to ensure peace and continuity.
The Commissioner will also be expected to assess the legal position of the throne under the state’s chieftaincy laws, while ensuring that all processes are carried out strictly in accordance with due process to avoid disputes.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the state government reaffirmed its respect for traditional institutions but emphasized that the rule of law must prevail.
Alimi stressed that Governor Adeleke’s administration will continue to protect the integrity of the state’s traditional stools while taking necessary measures to maintain peace, order, and cultural values in Ipetumodu and across the state.
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