Osun Ruling Houses Obtain U.S. Court Certified True Copy of Jailed Monarch’s Judgment
By Erewunmi Peace
The ruling houses of Ipetumodu in Osun State have secured a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment of a United States court that sentenced the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, to prison.
The judgment was issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, where the monarch was convicted on fraud-related charges connected to COVID-19 relief funds in the United States.
According to reports, the traditional ruling houses obtained the CTC to formally present the document to the Osun State Government as part of ongoing deliberations concerning the status of the royal stool.
Oba Oloyede, who reportedly holds dual Nigerian and U.S. citizenship, was sentenced to a prison term of 56 months and ordered to pay restitution running into millions of dollars. The conviction followed investigations into the misuse of pandemic relief loan programmes.
The Osun State Government had earlier indicated that official action regarding the monarch’s position would depend on receiving an authenticated copy of the court judgment.
As of the time of filing this report, state authorities have not publicly announced any final decision regarding the throne.
Further developments are expected as stakeholders review the certified court documents.
