A meeting of princes in Ipetumodu, Osun State, descended into tension on Tuesday after a member of the royal family demanded that the throne of Ipetumodu be declared vacant.
The controversy follows the conviction of Oba Joseph Oloyede, the 27th Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, who was recently sentenced in the United States to more than four years in prison over COVID-19 loan fraud. The monarch was also ordered to forfeit assets and pay over $4.4 million in restitution.
During the gathering, Prince Olaboye Ayoola of the Aribile Ruling House urged Chief Sunday Adedeji, the most senior kingmaker, to formally notify Governor Ademola Adeleke and request that the stool be declared vacant.
Adedeji, however, rejected the demand, insisting he would not be party to such a move.
His stance triggered a heated exchange among the princes, forcing the meeting to end abruptly without a resolution.
Speaking briefly afterward, he told journalists that “peace has to reign first”, before declining further comment.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed Oba Oloyede’s conviction on August 26, 2025. Since the ruling, the town has been gripped by uncertainty, with deepening divisions between the two royal lineages, Aribile and Fagbemokun.
While the Aribile Ruling House maintains that the throne should remain with them until the convicted monarch completes his jail term, the Fagbemokun family argues that the crown should now pass to their lineage in line with tradition.
The Osun State government has stated that it will review a Certified True Copy of the U.S. court judgment before determining the next line of action.
