The deposed Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, who was convicted in the United States of America for offenses related to fraud, has taken the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to court, seeking an order to stop him from filling the stool.
Oba Oloyede is the second claimant in suit no. HIF/50/2026, and in his motion on notice filed before an Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife, he alleged that Adeleke did not formally inform him of any infraction he committed before starting the process to replace him.
He requested a court order restraining 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, acting for themselves and on behalf of other members of the Latimogun Royal Family of the Aribile Ruling House of Ipetumodu.
Aside from Adeleke, the 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 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.”
However, the hearing in the matter was stalled on Monday due to the hearing notices not being served on the parties in the case.
During the day’s proceedings, only the claimants’ counsel, O. Ogbewe, and the counsel for the 5th defendant, Soji Oyetayo, entered appearances.
Speaking before the court, Ogbewe stated that he had served the defendants with the processes relating to the case.
However, Oyetayo, counsel for the 5th respondent, Adesoye Babalola, said the claimants had not served him with a hearing notice.
Oyetayo then asked the court to adjourn the matter so that the claimants could serve hearing notices on all the defendants.
In his ruling, Justice Dapo Adeniji adjourned the case to January 21, 2027, and directed that fresh hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants.
