The dethroned Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, who was convicted of fraud-related offences in the United States, has sued Governor Ademola Adeleke, seeking to restrain him from appointing a successor to the throne.

Oloyede, the second claimant in suit No. HIF/50/2026, alleged in a motion on notice filed before the Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife that Adeleke did not formally notify him of any alleged infraction before initiating the process to replace him.

He is seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the governor and other defendants from taking any steps to fill the Apetumodu stool pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Other claimants in the case include Princes Oyewusi Adewusi, Isaac Adewuni and Abiodun Oyetoro, who are suing for themselves and on behalf 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.

The motion on notice, dated September 16, 2026, partly reads:

“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 second 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 second claimant/applicant had, by an order or instrument purportedly signed by the first defendant on May 7, 2026, been deposed from office as the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu without any lawful basis.

“That there was no time the second claimant/applicant was informed by the first to third defendants of any wrongdoing before the issuance of the publication contained in the said Guardian Newspaper and the purported instrument or order of deposition.”

The hearing was, however, stalled on Monday following a dispute over the service of hearing notices on the parties.

At the proceedings, only counsel to the claimants, O. Ogbewe, and Soji Oyetayo, counsel to the fifth defendant, Chief Adesoye Babalola, appeared before the court.

Ogbewe told the court that he had served the defendants with the processes relating to the suit.

However, Oyetayo said he had not been served with a hearing notice and urged the court to adjourn the matter to allow the claimants to serve all the defendants.

In his ruling, Justice Dapo Adeniji adjourned the case until January 21, 2027, and directed that fresh hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants.

Oloyede’s deposition followed his conviction in the United States on charges involving wire fraud, filing false tax returns and financial transactions involving criminal proceeds. The Osun State Government subsequently approved his removal from the traditional stool.