HEDA Urges Osun Governor to Dethrone Apetu of Ipetumodu After U.S. Fraud Conviction, $4.4m Restitution Order
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has formally petitioned the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to commence without delay the legal and administrative process for the removal of the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, from the throne. This call follows the monarch’s recent conviction for fraud by a United States court.
On 26 August, Judge Christopher Boyko of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio sentenced Oba Oloyede to a five‑year term of imprisonment. The conviction arose from his involvement in a multi‑million‑dollar scheme that unlawfully diverted funds intended for COVID‑19 economic relief in the United States.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court ordered the traditional ruler to make restitution in the sum of approximately $4.4 million to the victims of the fraudulent scheme. This restitution order forms part of the judgment debt enforceable under U.S. law.
According to court records, the monarch entered a guilty plea after prosecutors established that he had used six different corporate entities to fraudulently secure loans under emergency relief programmes, including the Paycheck Protection Programme (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) scheme.
In a letter addressed to Governor Adeleke and signed by its Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, HEDA warned that permitting the monarch to remain in office despite the conviction would erode the credibility and moral authority of Osun State’s traditional institution.
The organisation stressed that a traditional ruler, by virtue of his office, is expected to personify integrity, cultural heritage, and respect. It argued that the continued occupation of the revered stool of Ipetumodu by a person bearing the stigma of a criminal conviction abroad is incompatible with the dignity of the institution.
HEDA further emphasised that traditional rulers are custodians of culture and values, symbols of lawful authority, and the closest link between government and the grassroots. Such a sacred position, it maintained, must remain untainted by the moral burden of fraud, corruption, or any criminal record.
The anti‑corruption body cautioned that inaction on the part of the state government could be construed as tacit approval of fraudulent conduct, thereby undermining public trust in governance and desecrating the sanctity of Osun’s traditional institutions. It urged the Governor to act decisively to protect the image of Nigeria both domestically and internationally.
HEDA concluded by pledging to monitor the matter closely, reiterating its commitment to promoting accountability and transparency in governance. Meanwhile, the Osun State Government has stated that it will obtain a Certified True Copy of the U.S. judgment before determining the next steps regarding the monarch’s status.
