The dethroned Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has approached an Osun State High Court to restrain Governor Ademola Adeleke from appointing a successor to the vacant traditional stool.
Oloyede, who was convicted in the United States over fraud-related offences, is seeking an interlocutory injunction preventing the governor and other officials from taking steps to fill the position pending the determination of a substantive suit challenging his removal.
In the suit, filed at the High Court in Ile-Ife, the monarch accused the state government of deposing him without first notifying him of any alleged wrongdoing or giving him an opportunity to respond.
Oloyede, listed as the second claimant, is pursuing the case alongside Prince Oyewusi Adewusi, Prince Isaac Adewuni and Prince Abiodun Oyetoro, representing members of the Latimogun Royal Family of the Aribile Ruling House of Ipetumodu.
In his motion dated September 16, 2026, the dethroned monarch asked the court to restrain the defendants from appointing anyone in his place until the substantive case was decided.
The application referred to a May 11, 2026 report by The Guardian, which stated that Adeleke had signed an instrument on May 7, 2026, removing Oloyede from the traditional position.
Oloyede maintained that neither the governor nor the relevant state officials had informed him of any wrongdoing before the purported deposition.
The governor, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Afolabi Adedeji, the Asalu of Ipetumodu, Chief Adesoye Babalola, the Malefon of Ipetumodu and Ife North Local Government are listed as defendants.
However, proceedings on Monday were stalled after the court was informed that hearing notices had not been served on all the defendants.
Only counsel to the claimants, O. Ogbewe, and Soji Oyetayo, who represented the fifth defendant, Babalola, appeared in court.
While Ogbewe told the court that the relevant processes had been served, Oyetayo said he had not received a hearing notice and requested an adjournment to allow proper service on all parties.
Justice Dapo Adeniji subsequently adjourned the matter until January 21, 2027, and directed that fresh hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants.
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