Tension erupted in Ipetumodu, Osun State, on Tuesday as a meeting of princes ended in chaos over calls to declare the throne of the Apetumodu vacant following the imprisonment of Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede in the United States.
The monarch, the 27th Apetumodu, was recently sentenced to over four years in prison for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief loans. He was also ordered to forfeit assets and pay more than $4.4 million in restitution, according to U.S. court documents.
The meeting, held at the palace and presided over by the Asalu of Ipetumodu, Chief Sunday Adedeji, began peacefully but quickly turned rowdy after a prince urged Adedeji to write Governor Ademola Adeleke formally declaring the stool vacant.
Adedeji refused the request, recused himself from the matter, and announced that he was no longer interested in being a kingmaker. His decision triggered heated arguments, forcing the gathering to end abruptly.
Speaking after the meeting, Prince Olaboye Ayoola of the Aribile Ruling House expressed disappointment, saying, “We had agreed to replace two deceased kingmakers and write to the governor about the vacant stool, but Chief Adedeji opposed it. That led to chaos, and no resolution was reached.”
Confirming his rejection of the proposal, Adedeji told The PUNCH: “It is true. Peace has to reign first,” but declined further comment.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio had earlier confirmed Oloyede’s conviction, noting that he and an accomplice exploited COVID-19 loan programmes between April 2020 and February 2022.
Since the judgment, Ipetumodu has been divided over the monarch’s fate. While some princes from the Aribile Ruling House — Oloyede’s lineage — insist the throne should remain with them, others argue that another prince from the same house should be chosen. Rival princes from the Fagbemokun Ruling House, however, maintain that the stool should rotate to their side.
Osun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dosu Babatunde, said the government would obtain a Certified True Copy of the U.S. judgment before making a decision.
Security was visibly present at Tuesday’s meeting, with Department of State Services operatives stationed outside the palace.
